Former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun has disclosed that the Federal Government uncovered 45,000 “ghost workers” after cross-checking the national payroll with Bank Verification Number (BVN) records.
Speaking at a dialogue hosted by the Citadel School of Government in Lagos, Adeosun said the intervention tackled what had long been the government’s single largest line item, a payroll system plagued by inefficiency and abuse.
She explained that earlier biometric clean-up efforts repeatedly stalled, largely due to resistance from paramilitary agencies, including the police and the army, which declined to submit to centralised enrolment systems.
Adeosun disclosed that her team instead relied on existing BVN data, avoiding the need for fresh biometrics.
Running the federal payroll against the BVN database, she said, revealed extensive duplication and long-standing administrative failures.
In many instances, a single BVN was linked to multiple salaries, while in others, payments continued for individuals who had died or left public service, she added.
Adeosun argued that the term “ghost worker” often overstated the sophistication of the problem.
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Rather than organised criminal networks, she said the losses frequently stemmed from weak controls and individual misconduct embedded in routine processes.
To prevent a relapse, the former minister said her ministry paired technology with clear personal accountability, requiring permanent secretaries to formally certify their payrolls.
The measure created a direct line of responsibility and reduced the scope for concealment.
Using the episode to underline a broader governance lesson, Adeosun stressed the value of evidence-based policymaking, saying robust data provided officials with the credibility needed to defend difficult reforms.
She urged current and aspiring leaders to embrace data analytics and artificial intelligence while maintaining the discipline to execute policy decisions.
The dialogue also featured Tunde Bakare and Mike Adebamowo, with participants agreeing that technological gains must be anchored in law to prevent reversal by future administrations.
Bakare praised Adeosun’s resilience, saying that her return to public discourse with her reputation intact reinforced public confidence in governance reforms.
The event concluded with a consensus that while tools such as BVN and emerging AI systems can expose deep-rooted weaknesses, only sustained leadership and legal backing can ensure lasting change.
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