Lagos ends work-from-home initiative for civil servants

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed workers in the state civil service to report back to office and begin the regular Monday to Friday working days and hours.

Recall that the governor introduced flexible working conditions in February 2024, requiring some categories of staff, especially the junior cadres, to come to work only two days of the week while working from home on the remaining days.

The senior staff were, however, reporting to the office every day.

The initiative was introduced in the wake of economic hardship to cushion the effect of the federal government’s removal of the petrol subsidy.

The directive’s cancellation was announced in a circular released on Tuesday, February 11, by the office of the Head of Service.

The circular by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, titled ‘Cancellation of the Work from Home Initiative in the Lagos State Public Service,’ stated that the new directive was a follow-up to the state government’s implementation of the new minimum wage.

The circular read in part: “Further to the implementation of the New Minimum Wage in the State Public Service and other commendable measures put in place by this administration to improve the welfare and well-being of Public Servants in Lagos State, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved the cancellation of the work from home initiative in the Lagos State Public Service.

“To this end, cancellation of the work-from-home initiative, which had been in place since February 2024, will take effect from March 31, 2025.

“In view of the above, Public Servants are implored to fully rededicate themselves to the effective discharge of their duties and ensure improved service delivery in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS).”