Real Reason We Deducted Money From Taraba Street Sweepers Allowances – Coordinator

Chuwang Emmanuel

The coordinator in charge of Taraba state, Kefas Moving Forward Sanitation workers, Iliya Kefas on Friday explained why the agency deducted N2000 from each of the Jalingo street sweepers monthly allowances.

Kefas made the clarification while reacting to media reports that the workers alleged that they were underpaid.

The street sweepers claimed that they were paid N13,000 instead of the N20,000 monthly allowance they were promised.

He said when the governor assumed office, he directed him to recruit 2000 sanitation workers across Jalingo, the state capital, through a company, IKA Multi-links on a monthly allowance of N15, 000 and not N20, 000.

In our last report the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Timothy Kataps also confirmed that the approved amount was N15,000 and not N20,000.

UNIVERSAL REPORTERS learnt that the same company was in charge of the sanitation work during the last administration but stopped due to lack of payment.

Mr. Kefas claimed that when the workers were employed by the company there was no written or verbal agreement on the monthly allowance as speculated by the public.

“We didn’t sign or make any agreement on the amount that they were going to be paid but we told them that the amount released by the governor is N15,000 for each worker.” He said.

Explaining the rationale for the deductions of N2000, Kefas said it was an action taken by the workers through their leaders to settle those that were not captured in the pay register and for administrative services.

“The workers were employed by various ward leaders, who are the supervisors at ward level. During the recruitment some of the ward leaders recruited sweepers that exceeded the required number, so when we discovered that I summoned them for a meeting.

“During the meeting, they explained to me that some of the women and youth decided to join without being engaged formally.

“We then agreed that instead of driving them away and considering the economic hardship we should beg those officially engaged to make sacrifices for the welfare of those not captured since they are all in the picture of the development.

“After we took the decision, I asked them to go to their various wards and explained to the workers and I personally went round to also brief them.

“I even commended the workers for the maturity they displayed on the decision, so I wonder why some of them are going around telling fake stories,” He said.

He disclosed that the money deducted which is N4 Millon was spent on payment of over 130 persons not captured and also for administrative work.

Mr. Kefas stated that while the government cares for and demonstrates the utmost concern for the sanitation workers, it would have been unfair for him to go back to the governor and tell him that the number of those doing the work exceeded the number he directed him to engage.

According to Kefas the governor has agreed that he will review the amount due to the subsidy removal and the impressive work they are doing.

He said they don’t intend to disengage those already working, considering the economic hardship, but henceforth no one would be paid when not officially engaged.

“There are a lot of people who are out there looking for work and hundreds of people come here on a daily basis asking for this job, so we decided we should make sacrifices and maintain the current number.”

Speaking on the issue of harassing the workers, he argued that “is not harassment as being mistaken by some of them but discipline.

“When dealing with workers, especially labourers you must be firm and disciplined. If not, you will not get the desired result.” He spoke.