The FAAC deadlock, stemming from disagreements over revenue shortfalls and deductions, has disrupted cash flow to states, many of which rely heavily on monthly allocations to cover recurrent expenses like salaries. However, Katsina has turned to internal revenue streams and financial reserves to fulfill its commitments, avoiding the financial strain faced elsewhere.
Alhaji Maiwada Dammallam, the Director General of Media at the Katsina State Government House, emphasized that Governor Dikko Radda’s administration prioritizes fiscal discipline and accountability. These policies, he explained, have strengthened the state’s financial stability, ensuring it can handle unexpected disruptions like the FAAC impasse without major setbacks.
Dammallam further assured that Katsina is financially prepared to pay salaries through March 2026, regardless of whether the FAAC dispute is resolved. This readiness, he noted, is a deliberate outcome of the government’s prudent financial management rather than mere luck.
Civil servants in the state have acknowledged the government’s efforts, confirming that salaries have been paid promptly. Maryam Murktar, one worker, mentioned that January salaries were credited by the 25th, adding that even December salaries were paid early—on the 19th—to allow Christian workers to celebrate Christmas without financial stress. Another employee, Mallam Awwul Mohammad Lawal, noted that salaries consistently arrive between the 24th and 25th of each month.
While negotiations continue at the federal level to resolve the FAAC dispute, some states are reportedly seeking short-term financial solutions, such as overdrafts and bank loans, to mitigate the impact on workers. For now, Katsina’s employees remain relieved, even as uncertainty lingers in other states awaiting a final resolution to the allocation crisis.
