The Lagos State Government has revealed that out of all the civil servants sent overseas for training, around 30 percent have not come back to Nigeria.
This was made known by Afolabi Ayantayo, the commissioner in charge of establishments and training, during a press briefing held to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Ayantayo explained that while a majority of the trainees returned after completing their programmes, a good number have chosen to remain abroad, likely chasing better job prospects and improved living conditions.
According to him, this trend is affecting the original purpose of the overseas training, which was meant to improve the state’s civil service.
The commissioner shared that the government has sponsored thousands of workers across different sectors and departments, with about 23,420 civil servants benefiting from training programmes between May 2022 and December 2024.
In addition, nearly 8,000 workers were granted study leave to upgrade their knowledge and skills in various areas.
He noted that some of those who stayed abroad had their courses paid for by the government, while others who were still receiving salaries were not sponsored financially.
Despite the issue of non-returning officers, Ayantayo said the trainings have helped to boost productivity and efficiency among those who came back.
He also spoke about the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of workers.
According to him, payments have been made for medical residency training and rural allowances for healthcare workers.
Staff of the Lagos State College of Medicine have also received bonuses and wage awards.
Furthermore, the commissioner announced that the state government approved a N35,000 wage increase to help civil servants cope with the economic situation.
He mentioned that training programmes covered subjects like digital transformation, emotional intelligence, policy review, and project planning.
As part of ongoing training efforts, 742 approval requests for training were processed across different ministries, and over 5,300 civil servants sat for the 2024 civil service exam, with only 15 failing.
Ayantayo said this result shows that the workforce in Lagos remains strong and capable.
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