By Uzair Adam
The Katsina State Government has terminated the employment of 3,488 staff from 34 Local Government Councils and Local Education Authorities following a biometric screening exercise that uncovered extensive fraud.
Governor Dikko Radda, who received the screening report on Wednesday, said the exercise covered 50,172 staff members, verifying 46,380, while the remainder were found with fake credentials, ghost postings, absenteeism, or refusal to participate.
The report was formally presented at a State Executive Council meeting attended by top government officials and members of the Biometric Screening Committee.
The initiative has produced the state’s first-ever unified digital database of all Local Government Council (LGC) and Local Education Authority (LEA) staff, with projected monthly savings of N453.3 million if recommendations are fully implemented.
The 10-member committee identified falsified birth certificates, underage employment, illegal promotions, and instances where staff positions were sublet to others.
Additionally, N4.6 million was recovered from officers drawing double salaries or collecting pay while on leave.
Committee chairman Abdullahi A. Gagare revealed that the exercise also exposed the Education Secretary of Zango LEA for allegedly colluding with others to insert 24 ghost workers, describing the case as a “serious breach of trust.”
Governor Radda said, “We have been in the system for a long time, and we know these issues exist. Many warned me that the Committee’s work could damage my political standing, but I was determined to reform the system and do what is right for Katsina.”
He directed that the committee’s findings be converted into a White Paper for full implementation. Radda noted that local governments currently have about half a billion naira in savings, which could increase to N5.7 billion if the recommendations are applied.
“Despite high revenue allocations, many local governments in Katsina still struggle to pay salaries. Councils such as Kafur, Malumfashi, and Daura carry heavy wage bills, mostly due to staff who are not genuine,” he explained.
The governor emphasised that reducing this burden would free up resources to support grassroots development.
“This reform is aimed at saving the state from the grip of a few, ensuring more funds reach the people in our local governments,” Radda added.
The screening exercise was carried out by a 10-member committee, including four retired Permanent Secretaries and six Directors, supported by 16 co-opted members and security personnel.