State overnment uncovers ₦27.8m payroll fraud in local councils
The Kano State Government has uncovered a major payroll fraud involving local government councils, identifying 247 staff members who have either retired or died but whose names continued to appear on the payroll.
According to a statement issued by Musa Muhammad, Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government on Saturday, the fraudulent payments amounted to ₦27,824,395.40 in March 2025 alone.
The discovery emerged during a validation exercise aimed at reforming the salary administration system within the state civil service. The exercise, the statement noted, was part of the government’s broader efforts to entrench transparency and accountability.
“Arising from the validation exercise, a disturbing irregularity was uncovered within the payroll system of local government councils,” the statement read. “The findings revealed that 247 individuals have either retired from service or died yet have been appearing in the payroll and their salaries running.”
In what it described as a “prompt and effective response,” the Kano State Government announced that the fraudulent amount has been fully recovered and returned to the Local Government Treasury pending further investigations.
The government emphasized its resolve to identify those involved in the fraud and ensure they are held accountable according to the law.
“The recovery underscores the administration’s dedication at entrenching governance, transparency, and responsible management of public resources,” the statement said. “The government remains resolute in its commitment to purging the payroll system of irregularities.”
The Kano State Government reiterated its commitment to continue cleansing the state’s payroll system, pledging zero tolerance for financial misconduct within the public service.
