Toba Owojaiye reporting
Kano State, Nigeria
The Kano State Government has uncovered a significant payroll fraud involving N27.8 million paid in March 2025 to 247 individuals who were either deceased or had retired, yet continued to receive salaries through the local government payroll system.
Truth Live News gathered that this anomaly was identified during a validation exercise conducted by a newly established Pay Parade Committee, which reviewed the March payroll vouchers across Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Local Government Councils. The fraudulent payments have since been recovered and returned to the Local Government Treasury.
This discovery is part of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s broader initiative to reform Kano’s civil service and enhance transparency in salary administration. Earlier in 2025, the governor ordered an investigation into reports of salary underpayments and non-payments affecting civil servants, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for workers. Additionally, in November 2023, the state government dismissed over 3,000 civil servants found to have been illegally employed, some of whom were underage or used forged
credentials.
The issue of ghost workers is not unique to Kano. In 2024, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered over N20 billion in pension fraud involving ghost workers nationwide Similarly, Jigawa State identified 6,348 ghost workers, resulting in monthly savings of approximately #314 million, while Anambra State uncovered 427 ghost workers, including 59 deceased individuals and 40 retirees still on the payroll.
Governor Yusuf has also prioritized the welfare of retirees, disbursing N16 billion in pension payments, including a recent #5 billion allocation to alleviate the plight of retirees who had devoted decades of service to the state. This commitment reenforces the administration’s dedication to entrenching transparency and responsible management of public resources.