By Usman Usman Garba
The Kano State Government has cleared outstanding allowances owed to former local government councillors, ending a financial backlog that spanned more than a decade with a total payout of ₦15.67bn.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the latest disbursement of ₦8.26bn covered 1,371 councillors who served between 2021 and 2024, marking the third and final phase of the settlement.
According to the statement, the payment followed earlier disbursements of ₦1.8bn to 903 former councillors who served between 2014 and 2017, and ₦5.6bn paid in August to 1,198 councillors who served from 2018 to 2020, bringing the cumulative beneficiaries to over 3,400.
Yusuf described the exercise as a restoration of dignity and trust, noting that his administration had committed to clearing the backlog before the end of 2025.
“We are not just closing a ledger; we are opening a new chapter. Never again should those who serve the public be left in uncertainty about what is rightfully theirs,” he was quoted as saying.
The governor also disclosed that serving councillors who assumed office in 2024 had received 50 per cent of their furniture allowance, amounting to ₦1.27bn.
He commended the Ministry for Local Government, Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General and the Former Councillors’ Forum for ensuring a transparent verification and payment process.
Yusuf added that his administration had commenced institutional reforms, including digitalisation of records, payroll upgrades and improved budget planning, to prevent the accumulation of similar arrears in the future.
The payment ceremony, held at the Government House in Kano, was attended by former councillors, senior government officials and labour representatives, with beneficiaries expressing relief over the settlement.
