The Katsina State Government has dismissed 3,488 workers from its Local Government Councils and Local Education Authorities following a biometric screening that uncovered widespread fraud in the system.
Governor Dikko Radda disclosed the development on Wednesday while receiving the report of the 10-member Biometric Screening Committee at the State Executive Council meeting.
According to the findings, out of 50,172 workers screened, 46,380 were verified, while the rest were found to have presented fake certificates, secured illegal postings, engaged in absenteeism, or failed to appear for verification.
The committee, chaired by Abdullahi A. Gagare, revealed shocking irregularities, including falsified birth certificates, underage recruitment, illegal promotions, and cases where staff positions were sublet. It also recovered ₦4.6 million from officers receiving double salaries or earning while on leave.
One of the most striking cases involved the Education Secretary of Zango LEA, who was accused of conniving with others to smuggle 24 ghost workers into the payroll — a move Gagare described as “a serious breach of trust.”
The governor said the screening was not just about removing ghost workers but about reforming the system to free local governments from undue financial burdens.
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He noted that the exercise had produced the first unified digital database of council and LEA staff in the state, projecting monthly savings of about ₦453.3 million if recommendations are fully implemented.
Radda revealed that councils already have about half a billion naira saved, and the figure could climb to ₦5.7 billion once the committee’s recommendations take effect.
“Despite huge allocations, many councils still struggle to pay salaries because of inflated wage bills. By addressing this, we can channel more funds into grassroots development,” he said, stressing that the reforms were necessary even if they carried political risks.
The governor has directed that the report be turned into a White Paper for full implementation.