Katsina State removed 3,488 unqualified workers from local councils after a thorough biometric audit.
Governor Dikko Radda said the reform saves millions monthly and strengthens integrity in public service.
The Katsina State Government says it has removed 3,488 unqualified and fictitious employees from the payrolls of its 34 Local Government Councils and Local Education Authorities.
According to officials, the action followed a thorough biometric audit of 50,172 workers, out of which 46,380 were confirmed as genuine staff. Those eliminated were found to have forged documents, failed to show up for verification, abandoned their posts, or engaged in fraudulent practices.
Receiving the report on Wednesday, Governor Dikko Radda described the exercise as a major step toward restoring integrity to the state’s public workforce and eliminating wasteful spending. He praised the committee for maintaining transparency despite attempts to influence the process.
Radda explained that he had been cautioned about possible political risks but felt reform was urgently needed. He stated that putting the system in order outweighed concerns about electoral consequences.
The committee, chaired by Abdullahi Gagare, uncovered several irregularities, including falsified birth records, counterfeit certificates, underage employment, absenteeism, illegal promotions, and instances where positions were “leased” to other people.
One of the most serious findings implicated the Education Secretary of Zango Local Education Authority in a scheme to insert 24 ghost workers onto the payroll with the help of accomplices.
The panel also said it had recovered ₦4.6 million from officials who were drawing double salaries or still collecting pay while on extended leave.
Governor Radda revealed that local councils have already saved about ₦500 million under the reform program, with expected monthly savings of ₦453.3 million once the committee’s recommendations are fully applied. He directed that the report be converted into a White Paper to ensure full and fair implementation.
He added that the cleanup would free up funds for community-level projects, noting that many local governments still struggle to pay workers despite receiving sizeable allocations because of inflated wage bills.
The screening was conducted by a 10-member panel of retired senior civil servants with support from 16 co-opted members and security agencies.
