The Katsina State Government has dismissed 3,488 workers across 34 Local Government Councils (LGCs) and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) after a sweeping biometric screening exercise uncovered widespread payroll fraud and irregularities.
Governor Dikko Radda, while receiving the committee’s report on Wednesday, disclosed that the screening covered 50,172 staff, out of which 46,380 were verified as genuine employees. The remaining workers were found to have presented fake credentials, engaged in ghost postings, practiced chronic absenteeism, or failed to appear before the committee.
The findings were formally presented at the State Executive Council meeting, attended by top government officials and members of the 10-member Biometric Screening Committee. According to the report, the exercise has produced the first-ever unified digital database of all staff in Katsina’s LGCs and LEAs, projecting monthly savings of ₦453.3 million if its recommendations are fully implemented.
The committee uncovered a range of fraudulent practices, including falsified birth certificates, underage employment, illegal promotions, and cases where staff positions were sublet to others. It also recovered ₦4.6 million from officers who were drawing double salaries or collecting pay while on leave of absence. One notable case involved the Education Secretary of Zango LEA, who allegedly conspired with others to insert 24 ghost workers into the payroll—a breach the committee described as a serious betrayal of trust.
Governor Radda emphasized that the exercise was necessary to cleanse the system despite political risks.
“Many people warned me this could damage my politics and cost me elections, but I was not worried. Katsina needed reforms and doing the right thing was more important,” he stated.
He directed that the findings be turned into a White Paper for immediate implementation. Radda also revealed that while local governments currently have about ₦500 million in savings, the amount is projected to reach ₦5.7 billion if the committee’s recommendations are enforced.
The governor noted that despite increased revenue allocations, many councils—such as Kafur, Malumfashi, and Daura—still struggle to pay salaries due to bloated wage bills caused by non-genuine workers.
“This is how we can have money to work for the general people in our local governments,” he explained.
The biometric screening was conducted by a 10-member committee comprising four retired Permanent Secretaries, six Directors, 16 co-opted members, and security personnel. The exercise marks a major step in the state’s efforts to curb corruption and redirect funds to grassroots development.
