The Lagos State Government has revealed that over 8,000 civil servants have been granted study leave in the past three years as part of efforts to enhance productivity and efficiency in the public sector.
Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, disclosed this on Wednesday at a ministerial briefing marking the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Speaking at the Baguda Kalto Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Ayantayo said about 70 per cent of those on foreign training had returned, while others had opted to remain abroad.
“For those still receiving salaries, we did not sponsor their courses. However, we paid for those no longer on salary, and this has improved productivity,” he explained.
The commissioner noted that beneficiaries came from 56 MDAs and were granted study leave to build their professional competence.
Between May 2022 and December 2024, a total of 23,420 officers underwent training, spanning over 158 programmes including in-plant and in-service sessions.
“These covered a wide range of skill levels and themes—from leadership and policy analysis to digital transformation and emotional intelligence,” he said.
The ministry processed 742 training requests during the period.
Ayantayo said the initiative has boosted performance, especially in sectors like transport.
He added that in the 2024 promotion exams, only 15 out of 5,342 officers failed.
With a workforce of approximately 101,108, the commissioner clarified that ad-hoc staff are paid through contractual arrangements with agencies or local councils, not the state government.
He acknowledged ongoing staffing issues in the media sector, noting that employees of LTV, Traffic Radio, and Radio Lagos were negotiating to be added to the Oracle payroll system.
Many of these staff, he said, were employed by the stations themselves, not directly by the state.
