The Lagos State Government has extended maternity leave for female civil servants to 6 months and introduced a 10-day paternity leave for fathers.
The state head of service, Mrs Josephine Williams, speaking at a joint press conference at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa on Thursday, July 17, 2014 said the new leave regime was meant to reduce the negative implication of the extensive work life of parents, who are civil servants in the state.
“A female officer shall be entitled to twenty-four weeks maternity leave with full pay in case of her first two deliveries. The said leave shall commence, at least two weeks before the expected delivery date; a male officer, to who a new baby (or babies in case of multiple births) is born shall be entitled to 10 working days,” Williams said.
She added that subsequent deliveries by any employees would attract only 12 weeks maternity leave for the female officer, while the male officer would not be entitled to the 10-day leave.
The special adviser to the governor on public health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said the six-month leave will enable the nursing female public servants implement the recommended six months exclusive breast feeding.
She said, “At six months or 24 weeks, a baby is considered strong enough to be left in decent crèche for proper care having gone through close affection and nurturing by mother.”
