Commissioner: 30 Per cent of Lagos Civil Servants on State-sponsored Training Abroad Fail to Return

Segun James

Lagos State Government admitted that over 30 per cent of its workforce on state sponsored trainings abroad failed to return. Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, who revealed this yesterday, said as a way of improving the human capacity development of its staff, the state government organised training programmes abroad for them.

But Ayantayo lamented that some the staff used the opportunity to elope and refuse to return.

According to him, “A total of 23,420 staff members benefitted from various training interventions between May 2022 and December 2024. Within the same period, over 185 training programmes were organised which cut across multiple cadres, skill levels and thematic areas relevant to public sector efficiency, leadership development and regulatory compliance.”

He said about 8,000 staff from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies who were granted approval to go on study leave in the last three years to enhance their professional skills did not return.

The commissioner said the government had trained and inducted a total of 51,045 staff out of its workforce of 101,108 between 2023 and 2024 to augment their capacities and productivity.

Ayantayo said, “As part of efforts to foster cross-sectoral learning and deepen institutional capacity, the ministry recently completed the onboarding process for officers selected under the Public-Private Sector Personnel Exchange Programme. The programme aims to promote knowledge transfer and collaboration between public institutions and private sector organisations.”

The commissioner added, “To date, preliminary orientation and deployment planning including engagement sessions with participating private sector partners have been briefed on their roles and expected outcomes. Out of the figure, 17 have been matched with organizations whilst 33 others will be matched soon.”

In the area of industrial relations, the commissioner stated, “We have maintained peaceful and harmonious labour relations through sustained dialogue and engagement with organized labour unions.

“We have successfully resolved Industrial disputes and grievances through proactive mediation, preventing avoidable strikes and disruptions in public service delivery.”

Ayantayo explained the state government was looking into the issues behind the industrial action by staff of the state’s broadcasting stations.

He disclosed that the affected workers were not originally employed by the state government and that was why they were not on Oracle.

While stressing the state government’s determination to have an effective workforce, Ayantayo stated, “Not yet Uhuru for us but we have the experts who are qualified not only on the certificates used in gaining employment but also the training they have acquired over the years.”

The commissioner stated that various commissions were in charge of discipline, promotion and sack of workers, saying, “It doesn’t fall within our purview to provide such information.”