In line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to allow nursing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding, an Oyo Lawmaker, Hon. Bimbo Oladeji has called on state government to review maternity leave for female public and civil servants from its present four to six months.
Hon. Oladeji, representing Ogbomoso North state constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairperson, House Committee of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, disclosed this in a motion moved and seconded by Hon. Yusuf Adebisi, representing Ibadan South West state constituency at plenary on Tuesday on “Review of Maternity Leave Policy for Pregnant and Nursing Mother’s in the Employment of Oyo State for Healthy Motherhood.”
The lawmaker stated that maternity leave is one major way to prevent and reduce infant and maternal mortality rate in the state.
While describing maternity leave as a period off work given to women by employers before and after birth, Oladeji explained that it will give them the opportunity to breastfeed their children, and in return improve their health condition, boost intelligence and ensure long life.
According to her “since the 2009 Nigeria Labour Law, female public sector employees have been granted sixteen weeks of maternity leave at a full pay and two hours off-duty everyday once back to work to breastfeed or express breast milk for another twelve weeks.
“Maternity leave policies vary across states in Nigeria with period ranging from three, four, five, to six months. Maternity leave in Oyo State at present is four months, while states like Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu and Ekiti have all increased their maternity leave periods to six months,” Hon. Oladeji said.
The lawmaker pointed out that the present policy of Oyo State government on maternity leave is not in compliance with the recommendation of WHO. Oladeji, therefore, urged the state government to set machinery in motion for an upward review of four months maternity of female public and civil servants to six months.
She also appealed to the state government on behalf of men counterpart for paternity leave to enable them assist their nursing wives for certain period.
The Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin while passing the resolution, urged the Chairperson, Women Affairs and Social Inclusion Committee, Hon. Wumi Oladeji and other members of the committee to liaise with Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion and come up with implementable recommendations.
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