By Our Correspondents | Katsina State
A sweeping investigation by our correspondents has uncovered widespread systemic rot, abuse of office, and entrenched corruption within the Local Government Education Authorities (LEAs) in Katsina State — extending far beyond the initial spotlight on Bakori Local Government.
What began as a report on illegal salary deductions and exploitation of teachers in Bakori LEA has revealed a much deeper and more alarming situation. Findings indicate that the issues are neither isolated nor new — they are common across most of the LEAs in the state and even in some Local Government Councils.
Unpaid Salaries: A Statewide Crisis
Teachers in several LEAs, including Bakori, Funtua, Kankia, Malumfashi, Jibiya and Daura, confirmed recurring incidents of salary withholding. In many cases, staff go unpaid for months without reason, only to have their salaries restored after persistent complaints — but without any refund for lost months.
Even more troubling is that similar occurrences are reported in some Local Government Councils, where staff salaries are withheld or tampered with arbitrarily.
“It’s like a roulette — you don’t know when your salary will be affected or if it ever will be paid in full,” said one teacher in Jibiya, who requested anonymity.
Employment Fraud: Ghost Workers and Substitution
Investigators also found a well-orchestrated system in which female teachers, who have relocated to join their spouses in other states, remain on the payroll. These absentee teachers pay unemployed individuals stipends to work in their place — a scheme facilitated with the knowledge and involvement of some BLEA officials.
In addition, several teachers who have exited the service for federal jobs or private opportunities are still on the state LEA payroll. These “ghost workers” reportedly only appear during staff screening exercises to maintain their fraudulent status.
Promotion for Sale
Another distressing revelation involves the monetization of promotions. Teachers across multiple LEAs confirmed that promotions are no longer a right based on merit or years of service, but a privilege for those who can afford to pay.
“When promotion notifications are released, we are forced to pay before they’re handed over to us,” one teacher from Bakori LEA disclosed. “Those who can’t pay remain stagnant for years.”
Nepotism, Favoritism, and Administrative Abuse
The investigation also revealed glaring cases of favoritism and disregard for merit. In many primary schools, junior staff on Grade Level 10 or 12, sometimes even 9, are appointed head teachers, while more senior teachers on Grade Level 13 or 14 are placed under them.
“This kind of arrangement creates resentment and kills morale,” said a senior teacher in Bakori. “It’s all about connections and who you know.”
Selection for training and workshops also follows the same biased pattern. Only cronies, relatives, or loyalists of education officials are selected, often sidelining competent teachers. Reports further indicate that meals and welfare provisions at such workshops are substandard, despite allocated budgets.
Call for Statewide Probe
With the extent of abuse now laid bare, stakeholders and education professionals are calling on Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda to expand his investigation beyond Bakori.
“The governor must throw his net wider,” said a retired education officer. “This is not about one LGA. The entire system is infected, and only a total overhaul will bring sanity.”
Teachers across Katsina State continue to suffer under these systemic failures — denied their rights, exploited, and demoralized. As the state battles economic hardship and rising unemployment, the need for transparency, accountability, and genuine reform in the education sector has never been more urgent.
Efforts to obtain official responses from Katsina State’s Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) remain ongoing as public pressure mounts.
