Osun Plans Six Months Maternity Leave For Nursing Mothers

The Osun State Government will in no distant time finalise plans to provide for six months maternity leave for nursing mothers in government workplaces across the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle stated this at a one-day symposium on celebrating enabling breastfeeding environment for working mothers held at the local government service commission, Abeere.

Dr Akindele explained that the move is in line with recommendations and advocacy of the World Health Organisation (W.H.O) and the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum seeking approval for six months paid maternity leave to nursing mothers.

The Special Adviser also hinted that Governor Adeleke will soon forward a bill to the State House of Assembly to domesticate enabling laws to aid the decision.

His words: “I’m happy to inform all our nursing mothers in our different offices that as a listening and people loving Governor, His Excellency Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has promised to send a bill to the House of Assembly to enact enabling laws to make maternity leave six months for nursing mothers in a bid to allow them to be able to tend to their babies and encourage them to breastfeed their babies exclusively for six months as recommended by the W.H.O”

“But I will plead and advise this gathering and the entire public that whenever there is any public hearing by the House of Assembly concerning the bill, all stakeholders must raise their voice in support of the bill,” Adekunle said.

• Sodiq Yusuf