The Lagos State Government has disclosed that nearly one-third of its employees who were granted study leave abroad have not returned to resume duty.
This revelation was made by the Commissioner for Establishments, Pensions and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, during a ministerial press briefing held on Wednesday.
The briefing was part of activities marking the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to Ayantayo, “30 per cent of the staff who were given the opportunity to further their education overseas failed to come back to the system.”
He also noted that a total of 23,420 public servants benefited from various training initiatives facilitated by the ministry between May 2022 and December 2024.
“We understand that training and capacity-building initiatives form the cornerstone of a vibrant and forward-looking Public Service, and this has remained our central priority,” Ayantayo stated.
“In this direction, the Ministry has consistently undertaken robust training programmes as a strategic tool to bridge skills gaps, enhance professional and adaptive competencies required in the State Public Service.”
Highlighting the ministry’s collaborative approach, he added: “In collaboration with leading training institutions, the Ministry has enhanced workforce productivity, ethical standards, and leadership capabilities at various levels of government.”
He reported that within the same period, more than 120 training programmes were conducted.
These included both in-plant and in-service training sessions, which catered to different cadres and skill levels across critical areas such as digital transformation, emotional intelligence, policy analysis, and project management.
Ayantayo emphasized that the ministry had also prioritized establishment matters, particularly in terms of policy development, workforce planning, service regulations, and career progression.
He concluded by affirming the ministry’s commitment to due process: “The ministry continues to ensure that appointments, promotions, discipline, and records management are guided by merit, fairness, and due process.”
