Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed that the Federal Government identified about 45,000 ghost workers following the integration of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) into the federal payroll system.
She spoke at a policy dialogue organised by the Citadel School of Government in Lagos. Adeosun explained that the reform marked a turning point in tackling long-standing payroll fraud within the public sector.
According to her, prior efforts to sanitise the payroll using biometric verification systems had largely failed due to resistance from key government agencies, particularly paramilitary institutions.
“The payroll was the government’s biggest cost centre, but it was plagued by inefficiencies,” she said. “We decided to bypass fresh biometric registration and instead matched payroll data with existing BVN records. The result was the discovery of 45,000 ghost workers.”
Adeosun clarified that the term “ghost workers” often concealed more basic issues, including duplication and administrative lapses.
In several instances, she noted, a single BVN was linked to multiple salary payments.
“It wasn’t always a cartel. Sometimes it was simply inefficiency, people who had died, retired or transferred but were still on the payroll,” she said.
To strengthen the reform, the former minister introduced accountability measures requiring Permanent Secretaries to personally endorse payroll records, thereby creating a clear chain of responsibility.
She emphasised the importance of data-driven governance, urging public officials to adopt modern tools such as artificial intelligence and data analytics in policymaking.
“If you come armed with data, it becomes difficult for anyone to challenge your position. Data is powerful,” Adeosun said.
The event also featured cleric and public affairs commentator, Tunde Bakare, who commended Adeosun for her resilience in public service. He noted that her integrity remained intact despite past controversies.
Participants at the dialogue stressed that while technological innovations like BVN integration have proven effective in curbing fraud, such reforms must be institutionalised through legislation.
