The Lagos State Government has expressed concern over the growing trend of civil servants absconding after being sponsored for training programmes abroad, revealing that 30 percent of such beneficiaries have failed to return to the country.
Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, made this known on Wednesday during a press briefing to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Addressing journalists, Ayantayo attributed the development to the increasing rate of emigration, popularly referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon—where Nigerians relocate abroad in search of better opportunities.
“While 70% returned, 30% failed to come back,” the commissioner stated.
He noted that between May 2022 and December 2024, a total of 23,420 public servants benefited from various training interventions designed to enhance efficiency and service delivery in the public sector.
According to Ayantayo, the state government implemented over 185 training programmes within the period, covering leadership development, regulatory compliance, and sector-specific technical capacity.
The commissioner emphasized the government’s commitment to curbing the trend and ensuring that investments in human capital development are not undermined.
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