Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed how the Federal Government uncovered about 45,000 ghost workers by integrating the Bank Verification Number (BVN) into its payroll system.

Speaking at the Citadel School of Government Dialogue series in Lagos, Adeosun explained that the federal wage bill was previously plagued by inefficiencies and fraudulent practices, making it the government’s largest expenditure burden.

She noted that earlier attempts to clean up the payroll using biometric verification faced major setbacks, particularly due to resistance from paramilitary institutions such as the police and military, which were reluctant to adopt centralised systems.

According to her, the breakthrough came when her team leveraged the existing BVN database rather than introducing a new biometric system. By cross-checking payroll records with BVN data, thousands of irregular entries were identified.

Adeosun clarified that many of the so-called ghost workers were not fictitious individuals but cases of abuse within the system. In some instances, a single BVN was linked to multiple salary payments, while in others, individuals who had retired, died, or transferred continued to receive salaries.

To sustain the reform, she introduced accountability measures requiring Permanent Secretaries to personally approve payroll records, ensuring greater transparency and responsibility.

She stressed the importance of using data-driven approaches in governance, noting that evidence-based policies are more effective and difficult to dispute.

The event, which featured prominent figures including Tunde Bakare and Mike Adebamowo, underscored the role of technology in addressing long-standing governance challenges.

Adeosun encouraged leaders to embrace modern tools such as data analytics and artificial intelligence, while also demonstrating the discipline required to implement lasting reforms.

Participants at the dialogue agreed that while the discovery of thousands of ghost workers marked a significant achievement, such reforms must be institutionalised through legal frameworks to ensure continuity and prevent reversal by future administrations.