The government of Niger State, Nigeria, has approved an extension of maternity leave for female civil servants to six months, a decision made during a State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Minna. The move is intended to improve the health of both mothers and babies, while also providing new mothers with more time to recover and care for their newborns before returning to work.
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The governor has directed the Head of Service, Abubakar Sadiq Idris, to implement the necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the policy.
Bologi Ibrahim, the governor’s spokesman, stated that the new leave period aligns with global health standards. “The policy was approved by the Governor as part of efforts aimed at protecting maternal and child health in line with international best practices,” he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
The state government believes that the extended leave will enhance the productivity and health of female workers upon their return to duty.
