Lagos State Grapples With Absconding Civil Servants After Overseas Training.
The Lagos State Government has revealed a concerning trend among its civil servants sent abroad for government-sponsored capacity training programmes. According to the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, approximately 30 percent of these employees have failed to return to Nigeria after completing their courses, contributing to what has been termed a “major scandal” within the state’s civil service.
Speaking at a ministerial press briefing on Wednesday, marking the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, Ayantayo highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing the professional skills of its workforce. Over the past three years, around 8,000 staff from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been granted study leave to bolster their expertise. Additionally, between May 2022 and December 2024, 23,420 staff benefited from various training interventions. However, the commissioner expressed dismay that 30 percent of those sent abroad have absconded, with many opting to remain overseas in pursuit of better opportunities, a phenomenon locally dubbed the “Japa syndrome.”
“When asked how many staff returned from such training, I can say grimly that while 70 percent returned, 30 percent failed to come back,” Ayantayo stated, underscoring the significant challenge this poses to the state’s workforce development goals. The commissioner noted that the government remains dedicated to capacity building, consistently organising training workshops to improve service delivery, despite the setbacks caused by absconding staff.
The issue has sparked widespread discussion, with some attributing the trend to economic hardships and the allure of better prospects abroad. Posts across social media reflects public sentiment, with users expressing shock and calling for a deeper investigation into the matter. One user remarked, “How many of them really used the training to improve work back home, or did they just get the ‘free trip’ and vanish? We need to know the full story.”
Despite these challenges, the Lagos State Government has made strides in other areas. Ayantayo praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration for increasing the state’s minimum wage from N35,000 to N85,000, a move aimed at improving workers’ welfare. In the health sector, initiatives such as the payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund, rural allowances for primary healthcare staff, and bonuses for workers at the Lagos State College of Medicine were highlighted as significant achievements.
The Lagos State civil service, which currently employs approximately 101,108 workers, continues to invest in professional development to drive the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Development Agenda. However, the government now faces the task of addressing the abscondment issue to ensure that its investment in human capital yields the desired results.
As the state navigates this challenge, questions remain about how to retain talent and prevent further losses. The commissioner’s revelation has underscored the need for robust measures to safeguard the state’s investment in its workforce, ensuring that training programmes translate into tangible benefits for Lagos and its residents.
