Enugu State government says it has set plans in place to enact a legislation that would enable working class nursing mothers embark on a six-month maternity leave with pay.
This the government said , was done inorder to improve nutrition and encourage exclusive breastfeeding among women in the state Civil Service.
The Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu made the disclosure when members of the the Civil Society-Scaling UP Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN paid an advocacy visit to his office on Wednesday.
Pix; Head of Service , Kenneth Ugwu (m) with CS-SUNN team
Ugwu said to give a legal backing to the proposed six months maternity leave with pay in Enugu state, as being advocated by CS-SUNN, the six months paid maternity leave has been included in the Public Service Rule under review.
He said in line with their advocacy for a six months paid maternity leave as well as the establishment of creches to enable nursing mothers in public service give exclusive breastfeeding to their babies, they did not only put the request into consideration but have established creches for the working class ladies.
He also said that they have approved the recruitment of staff that would man the Creches.
The Head of Service disclosed that in no distant time, their request for the establishment of Nutrition Departments in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs would be accomplished. adding that this could be actualised before the end of the year.
“We are committed to ensuring that Nutrition Departments will be established in the MDAs before the end of the year,” he said.
Earlier, the CS-SUNN Programme Manager, Dr. Goodness Chidi Anyanwu who led the delegation said that the purpose of their visit was to ensure that their commitment to the maternal protection, the implementation of the 6-months paid maternity leave, establishment of creches as well as the establishment of Nutrition Departments in MDAs is maintained.
“We came to follow up on the commitments made on maternal protection through implementation of six months paid maternity leave for working mothers and the establishment of creches.
“We also request an update on the establishment of Nutrition Departments in the MDAs for improved funding and coordination of nutrition programmes in the state,” Anyanwu said.
Author-: Maureen Ikpeama