Ghost Workers Can Be Eliminated Using AI, Biometric Verification — ICT Expert

A Nigerian software developer and tech expert, Chisom Chima, has called for integrating biometric verification and artificial intelligence (AI) into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to address the perennial problem of ghost workers in the civil service.

Chima, in an interview with journalists, noted that while the IPPIS has helped eliminate tens of thousands of ghost workers, it lacks advanced analytical capabilities. She advocated a shift from basic enrolment systems to more advanced technology capable of detecting fraud, verifying physical presence and improving transparency in salary payments.

According to the tech expert, embedding machine learning models into the system would enable the detection of anomalies and flag suspicious patterns such as duplicate records, unusual promotion timelines, or multiple employees sharing identical bank details or identification numbers.

“Machine learning can track statistical outliers and detect duplication in large datasets far more efficiently than manual audits,” she explained.

She said that civil servants could be required to undergo periodic biometric verification through live facial scans, alongside facial recognition and iris scans. She noted that such systems would rely on multi-layered authentication, including facial matching, iris verification, and liveness-detection algorithms, to ensure that individuals presenting for verification are physically present.

“The system confirms that the face matches the enrolled record, verifies the iris, and ensures it is not a photograph or mask,” she said.

To address concerns about inconvenience, she suggested that verification could be conducted quarterly or through mobile applications, thereby reducing the need for physical visits to verification centres.

Beyond biometrics and AI, the developer advocated using blockchain technology to create an immutable audit trail for salary disbursements.

She described blockchain as a digital ledger in which records cannot be altered without detection, noting that integrating it with AI would ensure that only verified and approved payroll entries are processed.

“If someone tries to insert a fraudulent name, the blockchain rejects it because it lacks the original approval chain, while AI flags it as a breach,” she said.

She added that this would enhance accountability and prevent unauthorised alterations to payroll systems.

Chima stressed the importance of data protection, calling for strict adherence to data privacy frameworks. She said measures such as end-to-end encryption, data minimisation and the ethical use of technology are essential to safeguard sensitive biometric information.

“Systems should only confirm the validity of identity data without exposing personal details, and all biometric information must be encrypted,” she added.

Despite concerns about cost and infrastructure, Chima maintained that Nigeria has the technical capacity to implement such solutions using local talent. She pointed to the country’s success in fintech innovation as evidence that indigenous developers can build and manage complex digital systems at scale.

According to her, investing in these technologies would ultimately save the government billions of naira in annual losses from fraudulent payroll practices.