30% of Lagos Civil Servants Sent Abroad for Training Fail to Return, Sparking Major Scandal
A significant controversy has erupted within the Lagos State civil service following revelations that 30% of government employees sponsored for overseas training have failed to return to Nigeria.
This development has raised serious questions about accountability and the effectiveness of the state’s human capital development initiatives.
The disclosure was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, during a press briefing held on Wednesday to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Addressing the press, Ayantayo admitted that the government’s efforts to improve its workforce through international training programs have been undermined by the widespread “Japa syndrome”—a popular term that refers to the mass emigration of Nigerians in search of better opportunities abroad.
Responding to inquiries about the return rate of staff sent abroad, Ayantayo stated somberly, “While 70% of the beneficiaries returned to Nigeria, 30% did not come back.”
He emphasized that the state remains committed to staff development, noting that between May 2022 and December 2024, a total of 23,420 civil servants participated in various training programs. These included over 185 different courses covering a wide range of skills and competencies aimed at enhancing public sector efficiency, leadership capacity, and regulatory compliance.
However, the fact that nearly a third of those trained overseas chose to remain abroad has triggered concerns over the monitoring and sustainability of such initiatives. Critics have questioned the absence of effective mechanisms to ensure the return and reintegration of trained personnel into the public service.
In addition to international training, Ayantayo revealed that approximately 8,000 civil servants across various ministries, departments, and agencies have been granted study leave over the past three years to upgrade their qualifications and skills.
Highlighting some of the ministry’s achievements, Ayantayo pointed to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s approval of a N35,000 wage increase for civil servants, aimed at cushioning the effects of the prevailing economic hardship.
In the healthcare sector, he noted that the government has disbursed the Medical Residency Training Fund, paid rural allowances to primary healthcare workers, and issued bonuses and wage awards to staff of the Lagos State College of Medicine.
When questioned about severance benefits for political appointees whose tenures have expired, the Commissioner declined to disclose the specific amounts paid, remaining silent on the details of those packages. This omission has further fueled calls for greater transparency in the management of public funds.