Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has expanded the state’s automatic employment policy to include all indigenes of Katsina who graduate with first-class degrees from higher institutions across Nigeria.

Radda announced the decision on Sunday during the grand finale and award presentation of the maiden Katsina State Students’ Week held at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

According to the governor, the policy is aimed at attracting the state’s brightest graduates into the civil service and improving the quality and efficiency of public service delivery.

He recalled that his administration had previously introduced automatic employment for first-class graduates from Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and other tertiary institutions within Katsina State.

“When I assumed office, I introduced automatic employment for students who graduated with first-class degrees. We implemented this policy at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University and other institutions located in Katsina State,” Radda said.

“Today, I am pleased to expand the offer to all Katsina State students across the country who graduate with first-class degrees from this year onward.”

The governor described the move as a deliberate effort to strengthen the state’s workforce by recruiting highly talented individuals into government service.

“This decision is deliberate. If we recruit a significant number of first-class graduates into the civil service, Katsina State will have one of the most efficient and productive civil services in the country within the next 10 to 15 years,” he said.

“You will have a civil service that can compete favourably with any state in the federation and even rival those at the federal level because we are bringing highly talented individuals into the service.”

Radda also highlighted his administration’s investments in education, noting that the government had prioritised the settlement of outstanding scholarship obligations and increased bursary allowances to support students.

He said the measures were intended to encourage students to remain in school and pursue their academic goals while helping to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.

According to the governor, the administration has made education a key priority, consistently allocating a significant portion of the state budget to the sector.

He added that the government had recruited more than 10,000 teachers, constructed new schools and rehabilitated educational facilities across the state.

Radda urged students to remain committed to academic excellence and contribute to the development of Katsina State.

He also commended the achievements of Katsina students, saying their performance had made him proud both as a citizen and governor of the state.

Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Haruna Musa-Muhammad, described Radda as a student-friendly governor.

The vice-chancellor praised the upward review of the state scholarship scheme and expressed the university’s readiness to collaborate with the Katsina State Government on educational development initiatives.

Earlier, the convener of the event and Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Matters, Muhammad Nagaske, said the Students’ Week was organised to promote collaboration among students, encourage academic excellence, foster cultural exchange and identify talents across institutions.

The event attracted Katsina students studying in higher institutions across Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno and other states.

Participants who distinguished themselves in various activities, including sports, academic competitions and cultural displays, were presented with prizes at the closing ceremony.