Nutrition stakeholders in Kaduna State have commenced processes to push for a legal backing for the six months maternity leave approved by the state government for nursing mothers in the state’s civil service.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the proposed bill was entitled, “A Bill for Maternity Leave and Enactment of Paternity Leave for Kaduna State Workers”.
Malam Salisu Lawal, Director, Development Aid Coordination, Planning and Budget Commission made this known in Kaduna, at the opening of a meeting to kick start the process of the development of the Bill.
Lawal said that the bill would also make provisions for paternity leave for male civil servants to support their wives to practice six months exclusive breastfeeding.
He said that the development of the draft bill was captured in the state’s State Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition, 2020-2024.
The director pointed out that the state government has extended maternity leave for female civil servants from three months to six months to enable them to exclusively breastfeed their children.
“However, nutrition stakeholders in the state wants the same gesture to be extended to male civil servants and give the pronouncement a legal backing.
“This will prevent the possibility of jettisoning of the circular by subsequent administration, thereby ensuring sustainability,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Hamza Abubakar, Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, equally noted that a law was necessary to prevent abuse.
Abubakar, who was represented by Deputy Director, Primary Healthcare, Malam Hamza Ikara, said that the objective of the meeting was to secure stakeholders’ input for the commencement of the process.
He added that the meeting, supported by Save the Children (SC), was also convened for stakeholders to agree on the development of a memo to the state’s Human Capital Development Council for approval.
“It was also organised to identify other relevant stakeholders, set up a committee that will review the concept note and develop a clear road map, including road map and cost implication,” he said.
Malam Isah Ibrahim, Nutrition Advocacy Advisor, SC, said that the move would enable nutrition stakeholders to maximise the political will of the current administration in improving the welfare of workers.
Ibrahim stressed that the meeting is first of the series of meetings outlined to mobilise policy makers, lawmakers, women groups, civil servants, media and other relevant stakeholders to ensure success.
On her part, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, the state’s Programme Coordinator, Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria, said that the step was necessary in protecting the nutrition interest of a child.
She said that legislation would address all critical issues that a circular cannot address–NAN
