Luciano Junior, the former director of the Unidos do Jacarezinho samba school from the Série Ouro, took to social media to expose his grievances over unpaid wages. He claimed that despite an agreement made in July 2025 to double his salary from R$ 600 to R$ 1,200, he continued receiving only R$ 600 until the public funding, known as subvention, was released. This funding, which is crucial for the operational costs of samba schools, was only made available in January 2026, leading to a delay in payments to employees.

The school's opening night for the access division, held on Friday, January 13, was marked by numerous issues, including whole sections of dancers appearing without costumes and poorly made floats. Luciano's allegations suggest that the financial mismanagement within the school might have contributed to a significant decline in the quality of their presentations. The lack of funds not only affected the employees' wages but also the overall performance and reputation of Unidos do Jacarezinho during the carnival season.

Luciano stated that his efforts to request payment went unanswered, and he expressed disappointment over the apparent lack of communication from Mattheus Gonçalves, the school president. This situation raises concerns about the operational stability of the samba school and poses questions about the management practices within these cultural institutions, particularly in light of the reliance on public funding for their survival and success in the competitive world of samba parades.