The Lagos State Government has paid ₦3.67 billion in salary arrears to 6,293 academic and non-academic staff of state-owned tertiary institutions as part of measures to strengthen workers’ welfare and sustain industrial harmony across the public service.
Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
Ayantayo said the payment covered nine months arrears arising from the 25 and 35 per cent salary increase approved for workers in Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions.
According to him, the intervention reflects the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare, improving productivity and building a more efficient public service.
The commissioner also revealed that the state government implemented a ₦32,000 monthly pension increment for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme in line with the National Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2024
He added that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the payment of a ₦50,000 fuel palliative to public servants to cushion the effects of economic hardship and rising transportation costs.
Ayantayo further disclosed that the government paid ₦456.5 million Medical Residency Training Fund to 470 resident doctors, while salary differentials worth ₦378.8 million were approved for medical and dental practitioners.
He noted that the successful implementation of the Lagos Consolidated Medical Salary Structure helped avert industrial action within the health sector and improved remuneration for doctors and dental personnel.
On workforce development, the commissioner said the ministry organised 54 training programmes between May 2025 and May 2026, benefiting over 7,116 public servants across various cadres.
He explained that the training covered both generic and specialised skills-gap programmes designed to improve leadership capacity, digital competence and service delivery.
According to him, 1,000 officers also participated in the Accelerated Digital Literacy Training and Certification Programme to prepare workers for a technology-driven public service environment.
Ayantayo said industrial harmony remained one of the administration’s major achievements due to sustained dialogue and engagement with labour unions and professional bodies.
“We dialogue with union members when there are issues, and we dialogue when there are no issues,” he said.
The commissioner added that 1,032 certificates of service were issued to retired officers during the review period, while recruitment and replacement exercises continued in key agencies including LASTMA, LASUTH and the Health Service Commission.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to improving workers’ welfare, strengthening public institutions and building a future-ready public service in Lagos State.