Long before most residents of Jalingo begin their day, hundreds of sanitation workers are already on the streets, sweeping roads, clearing refuse and helping to keep Taraba State’s capital clean. Their efforts form the backbone of the state’s environmental sanitation drive, yet behind the cleaner streets lies a story of sacrifice, hardship and growing concerns about workers’ welfare. In this report, ATTAH ANTHONY reveals that the labourers fear worsening hardship amid controversy over a salary review, with pay proposed to be cut from N20,000 to N10,000, even as officials deny any pay cut.
Every morning, long before the first rays of sunlight touch the streets of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, hundreds of women quietly leave their homes carrying brooms, rakes and waste bags for their daily bread, the “urgent 2k,” as some jokingly call it. While most residents are still asleep, they are already at work.
Some begin as early as 5:00 am, sweeping roads, clearing refuse, and collecting scattered waste across major streets, while others operate in shifts from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, 10:00 am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 3:00 pm, and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Their mission is simple: to keep Taraba clean, especially the state capital.
Day after day, the work takes a heavy toll on their bodies. Many street sweepers complain of persistent back, neck and muscle pain from hours of bending, sweeping and lifting refuse in difficult conditions, all for a wage that barely covers a few days’ family expenses. Yet, they continue with surprising resilience and even a sense of duty, showing up each morning despite the strain.
Beyond the physical exhaustion, some suffer health complications such as hypertension, worsened by stress and harsh working conditions. Others have become silent casualties of the job, with reports of hit-and-run incidents involving speeding motorists. At the same time, they work along busy roads, underscoring the constant risks they face in the line of duty.
Yet behind the cleaner streets and renewed environmental campaign lies a story of sacrifice, hardship and growing concern over the welfare of the workers who make it all possible, preventing the city from being littered with refuse.
The story of the Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency (TSESA) began with the state’s determination to tackle mounting environmental challenges. For years, successive administrations grappled with indiscriminate refuse disposal, blocked drainage systems, seasonal flooding, and poor sanitation practices in both urban and rural communities.
To address these concerns, the Taraba State Government under Governor Agbu Kefas proposed the Environmental Sanitation Agency Establishment Bill. During a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Environment, stakeholders argued that a dedicated agency would provide a stronger legal framework for sanitation management.
The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Aisha Barde, explained that the proposed law would create synergy among environmental institutions while eliminating conflicts of responsibility between existing departments and the new agency.
She maintained that environmental sanitation was central to public health and sustainable development, hence the need for a law to back the agency’s operations.
In December 2025, the Taraba State House of Assembly passed the Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2025, after extensive deliberations. The legislation was widely celebrated as a major step toward improving waste management, environmental hygiene and public health.
Upon receiving executive assent, the agency officially came into existence under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
Fast forward to the present, and the agency was tasked with coordinating environmental sanitation activities across the state’s 16 local government areas under the flagship programme, Operation Keep Taraba Clean.
Its responsibilities include clearing blocked drainages and waterways, evacuating refuse dumps, preventing floods, enforcing sanitation regulations and promoting environmental awareness.
To execute these duties, the agency established a structure comprising local government coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams, and sanitation workers spread across the state.
At the helm is Hon. Illiya Kefas, who previously coordinated the ‘Operation Keep Taraba Clean’ initiative before becoming chairman of the agency.
It is important to note that ‘Operation Keep Taraba Clean’ was originally an initiative by former Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku. During that period, workers were volunteers, working without stipends or transport allowances.
Despite the lack of government support, Mr Illiya Kefas, now the agency’s chairman, remained committed, mobilising family and relatives to keep the city clean—an effort driven by passion and sacrifice.
The goal was ambitious: to build cleaner cities, healthier communities and a more environmentally responsible state.
For many residents, the impact was immediately visible as roads became cleaner, drainage was regularly desilted, and refuse heaps disappeared from several public spaces.
However, beneath these achievements lies a different reality for workers. For many sanitation workers, especially women, the job is a matter of survival rather than a job.
Most are married women with children, widows, single mothers or young women struggling under Nigeria’s harsh economic conditions.
Every day, they report for duty regardless of weather conditions. Some spend between N150 and N200 daily on transportation to reach their assigned locations, while others trek long distances to save money for food, school fees and household needs.
Most workers say their greatest challenge is not the workload but the conditions in which they work. Many sweep roads and pick up waste with bare hands because protective equipment such as gloves, masks and safety kits is often unavailable. In these conditions, exposure to dust, sharp objects, and contaminated waste is a daily risk.
Still, they continue undeterred. Some have appealed for deployment closer to their residences to reduce transport costs and commuting stress.
Others say they endure the hardship because, no matter how small, the income helps sustain their families.
The most controversial chapter in the agency’s short history centres on workers’ remuneration.
When the programme began in 2023, Governor Kefas reportedly approved a monthly allowance of N20,000 for street sweepers. In March 2024, this was reduced to N15,000. By May 2026, the agency was reportedly considering a further reduction to N10,000, a move that triggered widespread reactions from labour advocates, civil society groups and residents.
For many workers and citizens, the proposed reduction came at a time of rising living costs, when food, transport and basic household needs had become increasingly difficult to afford.
This raised a major question: how can a worker survive on N10,000 a month in 2026?
The development sparked public debate, with some suggesting it was part of broader fiscal adjustments following recruitment to the state civil service.
However, the agency chairman, Hon. Illiya Kefas, later clarified in media reports that the salary adjustment was an internal administrative measure to sustain operations.
He cited costs associated with coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams and sanitation logistics across the 16 local government areas.
His explanation, however, did little to ease public concerns, as critics questioned whether the burden of sustaining operations should fall on the lowest-paid workers.
Following public backlash, Governor Agbu Kefas reportedly distanced his administration from any salary reductions and ordered that any such deductions that have caused concern be halted immediately.
The agency chairman also denied any formal policy to reduce salaries, assuring workers that efforts were underway to improve their welfare.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that the conflicting narratives have deepened public interest in the matter.
Our correspondent further reports that, beyond remuneration, allegations have emerged regarding the treatment of some sanitation workers. Some claim that, regardless of circumstances, absenteeism attracts strict disciplinary action, while complaints about welfare are rarely addressed.
There are also allegations of selective deductions, delayed payments and difficult working conditions. Some workers say fear of losing their jobs prevents them from speaking openly.
These remain allegations that require independent verification by the state government.
Nonetheless, they have intensified calls for stronger oversight and improved worker welfare.
Labour advocates argue that environmental sanitation cannot succeed through enforcement alone. They insist that workers must be treated with dignity and fairness.
During the 2025 debate on the Environmental Sanitation Agency Bill, lawmakers described sanitation as central to public health, economic productivity and quality of life.
They envisioned an agency that would not only clean the environment but also safeguard workers’ welfare.
That vision remains under scrutiny.
The agency continues to play a critical role in maintaining sanitation across Taraba State, with workers clearing refuse and improving public spaces daily. However, the conversation has now shifted beyond cleanliness to the welfare of those who sustain it.
Amid the controversy, some bold workers expressed gratitude for the opportunity. For instance, Mrs Naomi Bitrus, a mother of four, told LEADERSHIP Weekend, “I am happy to be among those adding value by keeping the town clean. Cleanliness reduces disease and brings progress. I thank Governor Agbu Kefas and Mr Illiya Kefas for engaging us. This job helps me care for my children and support their schooling. Even if the money is small, I have no regrets.”
Another worker, Malama Sa’adatu, said: “No matter how small the amount, I will use it to support my family. I pray that the government increases our salaries. I do this work with passion, not just for money. If it were only about money, I would have left long ago.”
Alita Gilbert, a young married woman, said, “As a school dropout, I do this work honestly to earn my pay. Even if it is reduced, I will still work because I enjoy seeing the town clean. We suffered before the programme came, so we are grateful.”
For Mrs Siyona Timothy, a mother of seven, “Working as a cleaner is a big relief for me. It helps me pay my bills. Even N15,000 is not enough, but I leave everything to God. Just as I was not consulted before getting the job, I will not be consulted on salary decisions.”
On her part, Miss Salome Adam Yonana said, “If salaries are reduced, I will request a relocation closer to home to reduce transport costs. We work Monday to Saturday, and it is satisfying to see the town clean. My prayer is that the government consider us for permanent appointment.”
However, when approached, Miss Kamila Yohana and Mrs Deborah Alhaji declined to comment, saying they were tired, while others feared victimisation if they spoke.
When contacted, Mr Illiya Kefas denied ever proposing a salary cut. “I don’t know anything about this. I never contemplated reducing salaries. Some of my workers earn N150,000, N110,000, and N100,000, while the lowest earner gets N50,000. I even spend millions (of naira) each month on operations. Why would I reduce their pay?” he said.
He categorically denied the allegation, calling it fake news. “It is false news. I never said I would reduce anyone’s salary to N10,000. I only advocate better welfare and permanent employment for them in the civil service,” he said.
The Taraba State Government also denied any plan to reduce workers’ allowances.
To further exonerate themselves, the state government, in a statement signed by Barr. Zainab Usman, the commissioner for Information and Re-Orientation, described the claim as false and misleading.
The statement stated that at no time was any reduction approved, contemplated or implemented, and urged the public to disregard the misinformation.
The statement added that the government was instead considering expanding the programme and improving workers’ welfare.
As Taraba pursues cleaner streets and healthier communities, many residents believe the success of the sanitation programme will ultimately be measured not only by environmental cleanliness but also by how it treats those whose labour sustains it.
For spectators, any heartless reduction of an already meagre monthly take-home pay from N20,000 to a proposed N10,000 would constitute the highest order of injustice and cruelty, especially in the face of worsening economic hardship.
Investigations by the LEADERSHIP Weekend correspondent showed that, despite the pay-cut controversy, every morning before Jalingo wakes up, the sweepers still return to the streets, unseen faces behind a cleaner city, working quietly, enduring hardship, and hoping their sacrifices will one day be recognised with the dignity they deserve.
