The Chairman of the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Illiya Kefas, has explained the reason behind the latest reduction in the monthly allowance of street sweepers under the “Operation Keep Taraba Clean” programme, sparking fresh reactions across the state.

The allowance of the workers, popularly known as street sweepers, was reduced from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000, marking another cut in their earnings since the programme was introduced in 2023.

SEE MORE: How Troops Forced Kidnappers to Abandon Two Bank Staff in Taraba

Kefas said the decision was necessary to sustain the agency’s operations due to rising workforce numbers and increasing financial pressure across the state’s 16 local government areas in Taraba State.

According to him, the adjustment was not a directive from Governor Agbu Kefas, but an internal administrative measure taken by the agency to manage its expanding responsibilities.

“The arrangement was an internal decision to sustain the activities of the agency and not a directive from the governor,” he said.

He explained that the agency now oversees a large structure that includes 16 local government coordinators, supervisors, monitoring teams, and more than 100 casual sanitation workers.

Kefas added that coordinators earn between ₦100,000 and ₦200,000 monthly, while supervisors receive about ₦50,000, and the agency also spends over ₦5 million monthly on feeding casual workers engaged in sanitation duties.

The latest reduction has added to a series of pay cuts affecting street sweepers since 2023. Initially, workers earned ₦20,000 monthly when the programme began, but their pay was reduced to ₦15,000 in 2024 and further slashed to ₦10,000 in 2026.

Defending the decision, Kefas maintained that workers dissatisfied with the new allowance were free to leave the programme.

“I have the right to ask my people to work at ₦10,000. Anyone interested will work, and if you are not, you can go your way,” he stated.

He also cited limited allocations from the Federation Account and increasing wage obligations following new recruitments as part of the financial challenges affecting the agency.

The development has continued to generate mixed reactions, with many residents questioning the sustainability and fairness of the repeated salary reductions.

At least two people have been killed following a deadly ambush by suspected gunmen in Talma Village, Ngel District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The victims, identified as Sadiq Muhammad, 28, and Mas’ud Abdullahi, 29, were reportedly attacked around 8 p.m. on Monday while heading to their cattle pen.

Confirming the incident, the Plateau State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, condemned the attack and called on security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

SEE ALSO: Gunmen Kill Ex-Ogun State Broadcaster, Security Guard in Early Morning Attack

According to Babayo, the attackers opened fire on the victims multiple times, killing them on the spot.

“The perpetrators shot them several times, resulting in their deaths. This act of terrorism has become an everyday occurrence. People can no longer move freely without being attacked or killed,” he said.

One of the survivors, Ismaila Haruna, narrated his ordeal, revealing how he narrowly escaped death during the attack.

Haruna said he and the deceased were travelling on motorcycles to their cattle pen when armed men suddenly emerged and began shooting indiscriminately.

“Three of us were riding motorcycles when suddenly gunmen opened fire indiscriminately. We all fell down. My colleagues died instantly, but I managed to escape and reported the incident to personnel of Operation Enduring Peace,” he said.

The survivor added that security personnel later escorted him back to the scene, where the bodies of the deceased and their motorcycle were recovered.

He said the remains of the victims were subsequently released to their families for burial.

Babayo urged members of the community to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands while security agencies investigate the incident.

“I am calling on all members to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands. We should all be law-abiding citizens,” he added.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Mogaji of Akinsola Family Compound in Ibadan, Oyo State, Olawale Oladoja, has berated former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over his recent attacks on Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, describing his comments as a reflection of an “irredeemable delusional disposition.”

Oladoja, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Tuesday, expressed concern over Fayose’s continued criticism of Makinde despite what he described as the Oyo governor’s goodwill and support towards the former Ekiti governor in the past.

SEE ALSO: Oyo APC Rejects LG Election, Says Makinde Wants to Rule by Proxy After Exit

The Ibadan chief said it was unfortunate that Fayose, who often claims to have been born in Ibadan and professes love for the ancient city, had chosen to attack one of its most prominent sons.

His remarks followed Fayose’s recent declaration of a political battle against Makinde, with the former governor reportedly vowing to mobilise forces against the Oyo State governor in future elections.

Oladoja defended Makinde’s leadership, stating that the governor had continued to transform Ibadan through infrastructure development and policies aimed at modernising the city.

“Governor Makinde has continued to transform Ibadan through infrastructure development and policies aimed at modernising the city, making Fayose’s criticisms difficult to understand,” he said.

He added, “Fayose claims he was born in Ibadan and that he loves Ibadan, but, sadly, he appears to hate his place of birth so much that he is attacking the pride of Ibadan, which is transforming the city into a modern metropolis.”

Oladoja also warned Fayose against dragging the Olubadan of Ibadanland into political controversies, stressing that the revered monarch remains a father figure to all regardless of political affiliations.

“I want to caution Governor Fayose from dragging our highly revered Olubadan into his dirty politics. Kabiyesi is a father to all, and we will not allow anyone to disparage our royal father for political reasons,” he said.

The Mogaji further stated, “It is unacceptable for anyone who has shown little regard for traditional institutions in his own state to attempt to bring our respected monarch into needless political controversy.”

He urged political actors to conduct their engagements with decorum and respect for traditional institutions, emphasising that the people of Ibadan would continue to defend the dignity and integrity of the Olubadan stool.