The Kwara State government has disclosed that it discovered 124 workers with fake Bank Verification Number (BVN) and 324 individuals were linked to 659 multiple accounts during its screening exercise to identify ghost workers.

The Secretary to the State Government who is also the Alternate Chairman of the Committee on Personnel Database Development Committee, Alhaji Isiaka Gold disclosed that of the 82, 642 workers so far verified by the committee, only 49, 579 have valid BVN.

Gold who stated this on Wednesday during the committee meeting, said 124 were discovered to have fake BVN while they also discovered that 324 individuals were linked to 659 multiple accounts during the exercise.

The SSG urged workers and pensioners that are yet to submit their BVN to do so within seven days or risk having their payments withheld.

He called on workers who were properly recruited by the state and local governments to remain calm, while assuring them that the ongoing verification exercise will not affect their salaries and jobs.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in his remark also directed state and local government workers and pensioners that are yet to provide their BVN for the ongoing staff verification exercise to do so within seven days or risk non-payment.

Ahmed, who gave the directive during a meeting of the Committee on Personnel Database Development, said government has no intention of withholding any worker's salary without justification.

He said the affected workers and pensioners will still be credited with their salaries and pensions, but will not be able to access the money until they obtain BVN.

The governor, who is also chairman of the committee, explained that the unique bank numbers were necessary for preliminary verification of workers and pensioners on the state and local government councils’ payroll, noting that at this stage of the verification those without valid BVN could not yet be designated as ghost workers.

Governor Ahmed said the intention behind the Personnel Database System is to give the government an accurate picture of the state and local government councils’ payroll and ensure that only those properly employed receive salaries and pensions.