Governor Yusuf Completes N15.67bn Debt Settlement to 3,400 Former Kano Councillors, Vows to End Era of Unpaid Entitlements

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has officially closed a decade-long chapter of financial uncertainty for local government officials, completing the final payment of a ₦15.67 billion debt owed to former councillors. The final disbursement of ₦8.26 billion, targeting 1,371 councillors who served between 2021 and 2024, was confirmed today, Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

The payment marks the successful end of a rigorous three-phase verification and settlement exercise initiated by the Yusuf administration to clear liabilities inherited from previous governments. In a statement released through his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor emphasized that the gesture was a fulfillment of his campaign promise to prioritize the welfare of public servants regardless of their political affiliations.

“Today, we are not just closing a ledger; we are opening a new chapter of trust between the government and those who serve at the grassroots,” Governor Yusuf stated. “Never again should those who dedicate their time to public service be left in uncertainty about what is rightfully theirs. This is about restoring dignity and justice to our system.”

The breakdown of the total ₦15.67 billion payout shows a comprehensive effort to reach all affected groups:

• The first phase in May 2025 cleared ₦1.8 billion for the 2014–2017 cohort.

• The second phase in August saw ₦5.6 billion paid to the 2018–2020 set.

• The final phase concluded today with ₦8.26 billion for the most recent former officials.

Beyond the arrears, the Governor also signaled his support for the current local government structure by approving ₦1.27 billion for the payment of 50% of the furniture allowance for councillors who assumed office in 2024.

Beneficiaries, many of whom are members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed immense relief and gratitude, describing the payment as “unprecedented” and a “rare act of political magnanimity.” In response to the long-standing issue of accumulated debts, the Kano State Government announced that it has already begun digitalizing its records and upgrading payroll systems to ensure that future severance and gratuity payments are processed seamlessly upon the completion of public service tenures.