The Lagos State government says that it has demonstrated a sustained commitment to training and development of staff members initiated by the current administration.

The state Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, noted this during the Ministerial Press Briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, to mark the second year of the second tenure of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu/Obafemi Hamzat administration in the state.

Ayantayo revealed that a “total of 11,420 staff members benefitted from various training interventions between May 2023 and December 2024.”

The commissioner disclosed “within the same period, over 120 training programmes (including in-plant and in-service training) were organized, which cut across multiple cadres, skill levels and thematic areas relevant to public sector efficiency, leadership development and regulatory compliance.”

He added that “It covers areas such as digital transformation, emotional intelligence, policy analysis and project management.”

According to Ayantayo: “The ministry processed 742 sign-off training requests from 139 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This volume of requests demonstrates both the growing demand for capacity development across the state’s public service and the trust reposed in the ministry’s training coordination mechanism.”

He said that the government reviewed and implemented improved conditions of service and staff welfare packages, in line with contemporary standards.

Ayantayo, who spoke the on implementation and upward review of minimum wage for public servants, added: “In January 2024, we implemented a significant wage award. This strategic intervention resulted in an upward adjustment of salaries by ₦35,000, effectively increasing the minimum wage from ₦41,750 to ₦71,750 per month.

“While demonstrating its proactive approach to improving the standard of living for workers amidst prevailing economic realities, the state government announced a minimum wage in October 2024.

“This brought the new minimum wage to ₦85,000, which officially took effect on July 29, 2024, with the implementation phase commencing in November 2024. This progressive wage policy stands as a demonstration of Mr. Governor’s commitment to the welfare of workers and inclusive governance in the state’s public service.”

On the onboarding for the public-private sector personnel exchange programme, the commissioner said that “As part of efforts to foster cross-sectoral learning and deepen institutional capacity, the ministry recently completed the onboarding process for officers selected under the Public-Private Sector Personnel Exchange Programme.”

The programme, Ayantayo said, aims to promote knowledge transfer and collaboration between public institutions and private sector organizations.

He said that preliminary orientation and deployment planning, including engagement sessions with participating private sector partners have been concluded, while the 50 selected officers have been briefed on their roles and expected outcomes.

 In the area of industrial relations, the commissioner noted that the ministry has served as a stabilizing force, promoting a culture of dialogue, mutual respect and constructive engagement between the government and organized labour.

He said that by proactively addressing grievances, mediating disputes and implementing forward-looking policies on employee welfare, the ministry has sustained industrial peace and harmony, which is an essential prerequisite for effective service delivery and socio-economic development.