The Lagos State Government has introduced a Monthly Biometric Staff Verification Exercise under the Biometric Staff Audit System (BSAS) to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public service operations.
Eko Hot News reports that the initiative was officially launched by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Audit, Dr. Oyeyemi Ayoola, who explained that the system is designed to eliminate ghost workers while safeguarding data integrity and privacy.
Dr. Ayoola noted that auditors will play a central role in ensuring the success of the exercise and urged them to uphold professional ethics and avoid any compromise of the system.
She stressed that the effectiveness of the biometric platform depends on strong internal controls, teamwork, and strict adherence to established standards.
According to her, auditors remain key custodians of trust within the Lagos State public service and must ensure full compliance with verification processes.
She also highlighted the importance of mental health, emotional balance, and overall well-being of auditors to ensure optimal performance in their duties.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Internal Audit, Mrs. Monsurat Titilope Alaka, described the BSAS initiative as a major step toward improving payroll management and eliminating fraud.
She explained that the biometric system will speed up staff verification while strengthening internal controls across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Mrs. Alaka added that the initiative will help identify and remove irregular entries, including ghost workers and identity-related discrepancies.
She said the system leverages advanced biometric tools such as fingerprint and facial recognition to ensure accurate and secure staff authentication.
According to her, the Monthly Biometric Staff Verification Exercise reflects the government’s commitment to using technology to improve workforce management and financial accountability.
She further stated that the initiative will strengthen transparency and support the implementation of the THEMES+ Development Agenda.
The Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, represented by Dr. Muyiwa John Adetola, described biometric verification as essential for modern personnel management.
He noted that Lagos State has consistently adopted digital solutions to improve payroll systems and strengthen internal controls across government agencies.
Mr. Agoro commended the Office of Internal Audit for driving reforms that promote efficiency, accuracy, and accountability in the public sector.
He expressed confidence that the new system would further enhance governance and ensure proper management of public resources.
The launch was widely described as a milestone in Lagos State’s ongoing reforms aimed at improving service delivery and eliminating financial leakages.
Officials reaffirmed that only verified and active staff would remain on the payroll under the new system.
The government emphasized that the initiative would improve operational efficiency and reinforce public trust in governance.
