How Buhari -led Federal Government uncovered 45,000 ghost workers via BVN integration – Kemi Adeosun
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed how the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari (now) uncovered 45,000 ghost workers by leveraging the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system to clean up Nigeria’s payroll.
Speaking at the Citadel School of Government Dialogue Series in Lagos, Adeosun explained that the federal payroll, then the government’s largest expenditure was plagued by widespread fraud and inefficiencies that earlier biometric reforms failed to resolve.
According to her, resistance from paramilitary institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army, stalled previous attempts to implement centralized biometric verification.
To overcome the challenge, her team adopted a different strategy by integrating existing BVN data with the federal payroll system.
“The payroll was our biggest cost,” Adeosun said. “We ran it against the BVN database, and the result was staggering, we found 45,000 ghost workers.”
She clarified that the fraud was often less sophisticated than assumed, describing cases where a single BVN was linked to multiple salary payments. In other instances, payments continued to individuals who had died or left service, highlighting systemic lapses rather than organized criminal networks.
To sustain the reform, Adeosun introduced stricter accountability measures, including requiring Permanent Secretaries to personally approve payrolls, thereby creating a clear chain of responsibility.
The former minister stressed the importance of data-driven governance, urging public officials to rely on evidence when defending policies. “Data is hard to argue with,” she noted, emphasizing that facts and analytics strengthen decision-making.
The event, which also featured Tunde Bakare and Mike Adebamowo, underscored the role of technology in addressing governance challenges. Adeosun encouraged leaders to embrace artificial intelligence and data tools while maintaining the discipline required for effective implementation.
Participants at the dialogue agreed that while the discovery of 45,000 ghost workers marked a significant achievement, such reforms must be institutionalized through legislation to prevent future reversals.
In his remarks, Bakare commended Adeosun’s resilience and integrity, noting that her return to public discourse without allegations of corruption remains a positive example for governance in Nigeria.
