Fesochukwu Jason
Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed how the integration of Bank Verification Number (BVN) technology uncovered over 45,000 ghost workers in Nigeria’s federal payroll, exposing one of the largest cases of public sector fraud in recent history.
Speaking at the Citadel School of Government Dialogue in Lagos, Adeosun explained that the federal wage bill had long been the government’s largest recurring expense, plagued by deep-rooted inefficiencies, inflated records, and weak accountability systems.
According to her, earlier attempts to clean up the payroll using biometric verification systems repeatedly failed due to institutional resistance, particularly from paramilitary agencies such as the police and military, which were reluctant to submit to centralized data capture.
Faced with this challenge, her team adopted a more strategic and technology-driven approach by leveraging the existing BVN database — a financial identity system already linked to millions of Nigerians through the banking sector.
“The payroll was our biggest cost,” Adeosun said. “Previous biometric efforts stalled because some agencies refused to cooperate. So instead of starting fresh, we used BVN data already in existence and matched it against the federal payroll.”
The results, she noted, were shocking.
“We discovered 45,000 ghost workers,” she stated, adding that the fraud was not always as complex as many assumed.
Adeosun clarified that in several cases, the so-called “ghost workers” were not invisible individuals, but rather systemic loopholes being exploited. She explained that a single BVN was sometimes linked to multiple salary payments, while in other cases, individuals who had died, retired, or transferred were still receiving salaries.
“In some instances, one person’s BVN was tied to seven different salaries. It wasn’t always a cartel — sometimes it was pure inefficiency and lack of oversight,” she said.
To prevent the fraud from resurfacing, Adeosun introduced stricter accountability measures within the system. Permanent Secretaries were required to personally verify and sign off on payrolls under their supervision, ensuring that responsibility could be traced and enforced.
This blend of technology and human accountability, she said, was key to sustaining the reform.
Beyond the payroll cleanup, Adeosun emphasized the broader importance of data-driven governance, urging public officials to rely on verifiable evidence rather than rhetoric when defending policies.
“If you come armed with data, facts, and clear analysis, it becomes difficult for anyone to challenge you. Data is powerful,” she noted.
She also encouraged leaders to embrace modern tools such as artificial intelligence and digital data systems to solve longstanding governance challenges, stressing that innovation must be matched with discipline and execution.
“If you cannot clearly explain your policy, then you should not be implementing it,” she added.
The event also featured prominent figures including Pastor Tunde Bakare and Professor Mike Adebamowo, who echoed the need for reform-minded leadership and institutional strengthening.
Bakare praised Adeosun’s role in driving transparency and fiscal discipline, noting that her record in office demonstrated that public service could be executed with integrity.
He remarked that her ability to maintain a clean public image after leaving office reinforced confidence in governance and accountability.
Experts at the dialogue agreed that while the discovery of 45,000 ghost workers marked a major financial breakthrough, such reforms must be backed by strong legal frameworks to ensure continuity beyond individual administrations.
The discussion concluded with a clear message: while tools like BVN and artificial intelligence can expose fraud and improve efficiency, lasting change depends on leadership courage, institutional enforcement, and policy continuity.
The revelations once again highlight the scale of financial leakages previously embedded in Nigeria’s public sector — and the critical role technology now plays in blocking them.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.