By Our Correspondent
National News – Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed that the integration of the Bank Verification Number into Nigeria’s federal payroll system uncovered about 45,000 ghost workers during her tenure.
She disclosed this on Sunday during the Citadel School of Government Dialogue held in Lagos, explaining how technology and data analysis helped the Federal Government tackle long-standing payroll fraud.
According to Adeosun, the discovery occurred when the government cross-checked federal salary records with the BVN database.
The initiative was introduced as part of broader public sector reforms aimed at reducing waste, curbing corruption, and improving transparency in government spending.
The former minister explained that the payroll had been the single largest expense for the government, making it a critical area for reform.
She said earlier attempts to sanitize the payroll using biometric systems faced resistance, particularly from paramilitary agencies such as the police and the military, which declined to participate fully in centralized verification exercises.
To overcome this challenge, the government relied on the existing BVN database used by the banking sector, allowing authorities to match employees’ identities against verified financial records.
Adeosun clarified that many of the so-called ghost workers were not mysterious figures but cases of systemic inefficiencies or deliberate abuse.
In some instances, a single BVN was linked to multiple salary accounts, enabling one person to receive payments meant for several employees.
Other cases involved individuals who had died or left government service but remained on the payroll.
To ensure accountability, Adeosun said permanent secretaries were required to personally approve and sign their ministries’ payrolls.
This measure created a clear chain of responsibility and made it more difficult for fraudulent entries to go unnoticed.
Speaking further at the event, she urged public officials to rely on verifiable data when defending government policies.
Adeosun emphasized that credible statistics and evidence strengthen decision-making and make reforms easier to justify.
The dialogue also featured Pastor Tunde Bakare and Professor Mike Adebamowo, who highlighted the importance of technology, artificial intelligence, and data-driven governance in addressing Nigeria’s persistent administrative challenges.
Adeosun concluded that while identifying 45,000 ghost workers represented a major victory for government finances, long-term success would depend on strong laws and committed leadership to sustain such reforms.
