Approval of Six Months Maternity Leave - Fashola

The baby-friendly initiative which advocates six months exclusive breastfeeding of babies has got a boost in Lagos, as the state executive council has approved six months maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state employ with full pay.

Under the new policy which Governor Babatunde Fashola has directed should take immediate effect, male public servants whose wives just put to bed, are also entitled to ten working days paternity leave.

Josephine Oluseyi Williams, the state head of service, announced the policy at an inter-ministerial press briefing attended by Lateef Ibirogba, commissioner for information; Yewande Adeshina, special adviser on public health and Hakeem Bello, special adviser on media, on Thursday. The government, she said, believes the new policy would advance a balanced family-work life, “with the ultimate intent of having future leaders who enjoyed parental care and affection”.

Explaining further, Williams said the policy applies to a female officer in her first two deliveries and the male staff during her spouse first two deliveries.

She said government was concerned about the trend that parents spend more time at work place at the expense of the home front, saying such was detrimental to the basic developmental needs of children and often account for a number of societal ills.