By Abdul Kareem

The Borno state chapter of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition (CS-SUNN), a non governmental organization, on May 13, 2024 called for the implementation of the proposeda six months paid maternity leave for workers in the sate. 

This call was made during an advocacy visit to the Borno State Ministry for Budget and Planning by a team of civil society advocates led by the CS-SUNN state coordinator, Hajia Aisha Maidala.

“The focus of this advocacy was to push for the implementation of a six-month paid maternity leave for workers policy in the state, aiming to support the well-being of working mothers and promote family-friendly policies in the workplace,” the CS-SUNN Coordinator said. 

Mrs Maidala, a veteran nutritionist,  said the future development of a child is guaranteed when a nursing mother has enough time and space to perform exclusive breastfeeding.

The Borno state director of budget and planning, Hassan S Ndahi. who received the CS-SUNN team commended the team even as he assured that the issues raised would be carried forward to relevant critical stakeholders in government for consideration. 

Nigeria currently implements two maternity entitlement provisions. The first, which is recognised both at thr state and federal levels of public service and codified in the Nigerian Labour Act, provides up to 12 weeks of maternity leave with at least 50 per cent of salary and, upon return to work, half an hour twice a day during working hours to breastfeed.

The second, adopted in 2023 by the Federal Public Service and yet to be ratified by the states and local government civil service is a 16-week maternity leave provision with full pay and two hours off each day to breastfeed up to six months after the employee resumes duty.