Sokoto Assembly urged to enact law for 6-month maternity leave for civil servants
Sokoto Assembly urged to enact law for 6-month maternity leave for civil servants
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has been urged to enact a law extending maternity leave for civil servant mothers from four to six months to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child nutrition.
The call was made on Tuesday by the Team Lead, Partnership and Collaboration, Civil Society Scale-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Shuaibu Musa Kafin-Gana, during an advocacy visit to the House Committee on Health at the Assembly Complex.
Kafin-Gana said the extension could be achieved through the sponsorship of a private member’s bill, which would facilitate the process and enable the executive arm of government to implement the policy.
“If enacted, the law will encourage six months of exclusive breastfeeding for newborn babies.
“This will improve their health and contribute to the overall well-being of society,” he said.
The Team Lead also acknowledged the improvement recorded in Sokoto State’s nutrition indices between 2018 and 2023.
According to him, the state reduced malnutrition among children under five to 42 per cent, compared with 54.8 per cent recorded in the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS.
He, however, expressed concern over the growing cases of anaemia among adolescent girls and newborn babies.
Kafin-Gana stressed that this further highlights the need to promote six months of exclusive breastfeeding as a key measure for improving the health and nutritional status of children.
He, therefore, called on members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly to support the proposed legislation and take the necessary steps towards its enactment.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Member representing Gada East Constituency, Hon. Kabiru Dauda, acknowledged the remarkable progress recorded in reducing malnutrition among children under five in the state.
He assured the delegation of the committee’s readiness to do everything necessary to ensure that children in Sokoto State are healthy and well-nourished.
