The Katsina State Government has dismissed 3,488 employees from 34 Local Government Councils and Local Education Authorities following a biometric screening that uncovered widespread fraud. Governor Dikko Radda, who received the committee’s report on Wednesday during a State Executive Council meeting, revealed that the screening verified 46,380 out of 50,172 staff, identifying fake credentials, ghost workers, absenteeism, and non-compliance among the rest.
The screening created Katsina’s first unified digital database for LGC and LEA staff, projecting monthly savings of N453.3 million if recommendations are fully implemented. The 10-member Biometric Screening Committee exposed falsified birth certificates, underage employment, illegal promotions, and cases of staff positions being sublet. It also recovered N4.6m from officers drawing double salaries or collecting pay while on leave.
Committee chairman Abdullahi A. Gagare highlighted a case involving the Education Secretary of Zango LEA, who allegedly collaborated to insert 24 ghost workers, calling it a “serious breach of trust.”
Governor Radda, acknowledging political risks, emphasized the need for reform, stating, “The situation in Katsina required doing the right thing.” He ordered the findings be compiled into a White Paper for implementation. Radda noted that local governments have saved about N500m, potentially reaching N5.7bn with these measures.
He highlighted that heavy wage bills in councils like Kafur, Malumfashi, and Daura, driven by fraudulent workers, have strained finances despite high revenue allocations.
Radda stressed that reducing this burden will unlock funds for grassroots development, saying, “This is how we can have money to work for the general people in our local governments.”
