Bauchi State, NDPC Join Forces to Overhaul Payroll, Eradicate Ghost Workers

The Bauchi State Government has sealed a partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to reform its payroll system and eliminate ghost workers, in a move aimed at boosting transparency and efficiency in the civil service. Governor Bala Mohammed described the initiative as a “decisive step” towards restoring integrity in public service administration, noting that payroll reform is central to his regime’s governance agenda. Under the agreement, the NDPC will work with Bauchi to align its payroll and personnel data with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, embed privacy frameworks, and train state officials on responsible data management. Speaking on behalf of NDPC Chief Executive, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, Mr. Babatunde Bamibogboye said the collaboration would not only ensure payroll accuracy but also enhance citizens’ trust in government data systems. Bauchi State has battled ghost workers for years, uncovering thousands of fraudulent entries in multiple audits. Between 2016 and 2022, the state removed more than 6,000 fictitious names from its payroll, saving up to ₦1 billion monthly. The new partnership is expected to deliver a biometric verification exercise for all state employees, integrate real-time monitoring tools, and establish permanent safeguards against payroll fraud. Officials say the project could serve as a model for other states facing similar challenges, while positioning Bauchi as a leader in data protection–driven governance reform.