Katsina sacks 3,488 workers over biometric screening fraud

The Katsina State Government has dismissed 3,488 workers from its 34 Local Government Councils and Local Education Authorities after a biometric screening exercise uncovered massive irregularities.

Governor Dikko Radda disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the report of the Biometric Screening Committee. According to him, the exercise screened 50,172 staff members, out of which 46,380 were successfully verified. The remaining workers were flagged for various forms of misconduct, including the use of fake credentials, ghost postings, chronic absenteeism, and refusal to present themselves for verification.

The committee’s report was formally presented during the State Executive Council meeting, with senior government officials and committee members in attendance.

The exercise has created the first-ever unified digital database of all LGC and LEA staff in the state’s history while projecting monthly savings of N453.3 million if recommendations are fully implemented.

The 10-member committee uncovered falsified birth certificates, underage employment, illegal promotions, and cases where staff positions were sublet to others.

It also recovered ₦4.6m from officers drawing double salaries or collecting pay while on leave of absence.

Committee chairman Abdullahi A. Gagare said the exercise also exposed the Education Secretary of Zango LEA, who allegedly connived with others to insert 24 ghost workers, describing it as a “serious breach of trust.”

The governor said, “We have been in the system for a long time, and we know these things exist. Many people complained and even warned me that the Committee’s work could damage my politics and cost me elections.

“But I was not worried, because the situation in Katsina required reforming the system and doing the right thing.”

Radda directed that the findings be turned into a White Paper for full implementation.

Radda disclosed that local governments currently have about half a billion naira saved, which will reach ₦5.7 billion with the committee’s findings.

“Despite high revenue allocations, many local governments in Katsina still struggle to pay salaries. Councils such as Kafur, Malumfashi, and Daura carry very heavy wage bills, mostly due to workers who are not genuine,” he stated.

The governor emphasised that reducing this burden will free up more funds to support grassroots development.

“I did this to save the state from the grip of a few. This is how we can have money to work for the general people in our local governments,” Radda said.

The screening exercise was conducted by a 10-member committee, including four retired Permanent Secretaries and six Directors, supported by 16 co-opted members and security personnel.