Governor Yusuf,
The Kano State government has uncovered a massive payroll fraud involving 247 ghost workers who had been receiving salaries under the local government system.
According to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Faruq, the discovery was made by a special committee set up by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to review the payroll system.
The investigation revealed that some of the ghost workers listed on the payroll were either deceased or had retired from service.
The committee’s findings come after widespread public complaints over illegal deductions from workers’ salaries and cases where some employees’ payments were entirely withheld.
In a statement signed by the Press Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mallam Musa Tanko Muhammad, the government confirmed that the sum of ₦27,824,395.40, previously allocated for the ghost workers’ salaries for March 2025, has been successfully blocked.
“In a prompt and effective response, and while further due diligence is being conducted to determine the extent of this apparent fraud and the perpetrators, the monies recovered will be returned to the Local Government Treasury,” Musa stated.
He emphasized the government’s determination to clean up the payroll system, warning that individuals found guilty would be held accountable.
“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to purging the payroll system of irregularities.”
“Individuals found to be involved in this fraudulent activity will be identified and held fully accountable in accordance with the law,” he said.
The statement also noted that the committee, tasked with considering the reintroduction of the Pay Parade system, has begun preparations for its full implementation.
“Consequently, the Committee printed the March 2025 payroll vouchers and requested all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Government Councils to study the Payrolls and make necessary observations as a prelude to a comprehensive Pay Parade scheduled to be flagged off on Monday, the 28th of April,” the statement added.
