Zamfara Grants Female Civil Servants Six-Month Maternity Leave
The Zamfara State Government has approved a six-month maternity leave policy for female civil servants in a move aimed at encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and enhancing the health and well-being of both mothers and their children. The announcement was made on Thursday in Gusau by the State Head of Service, Yakubu Haidara, while receiving a delegation from the Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN). According to Haidara, the approval reflects Governor Dauda Lawal’s commitment to tackling child malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes for infants across the state. “I believe the governor’s approval is aimed at addressing malnutrition among children in the state,” he said. He explained that the extended maternity leave would allow mothers adequate time to recover after childbirth, reduce the risk of postpartum depression, support exclusive breastfeeding and strengthen the bond between mothers and their babies. “It provides essential time for physical recovery, prevents postpartum depression, facilitates exclusive breastfeeding and promotes vital emotional bonding,” Haidara said. The Head of Service noted that the state government and civil society organisations shared a common goal of protecting children and ensuring healthier future generations. He recalled that Governor Lawal approved N500 million in counterpart funding for nutrition programmes last year and expressed optimism that the administration would sustain or increase its investment in nutrition. “I believe this year also the governor will do the same or even more for nutrition activities in the state,” he said. Haidara also assured the delegation that the government would continue to collaborate with development partners and civil society organisations to combat child malnutrition. Earlier, the CS-SUNN State Coordinator, Kabiru Jangeru, described the governor’s approval as a significant milestone in efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition in Zamfara. He said the organisation, with support from UNICEF, had been advocating increased funding for nutrition programmes and the adoption of a six-month maternity leave policy to encourage exclusive breastfeeding. According to Jangeru, the approval aligns with global recommendations on infant feeding and is expected to contribute to better health outcomes for mothers and children in the state. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is recommended by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF as one of the most effective interventions for reducing infant mortality, improving child nutrition and supporting healthy growth and development. The policy is expected to provide working mothers with the time needed to exclusively breastfeed their babies while recovering from childbirth.