10-Day Paternity Leave: Why Lagos Introduced New Policy To Take Effect Immediately

 
Lagos State Government on Thursday unfolded a new maternity and paternity leave policy for male and female workers under its employ, with an appeal to other employers of labour and private establishments to take a cue.

With the new policy, female officers will henceforth be entitled to 24 weeks (six months) maternity leave with full pay in the case of her first two deliveries, with the said leave expected to begin at least two weeks before the expected delivery date. The government also approved a 10 working days paternity leave for male officers in relation to and at the time of his spouse’s first two deliveries.

In the previous policy, female officers were only entitled to twelve weeks (three months) maternity leave, while their male counterparts were not considered for paternity leave. State Head of Service, Oluseyi Williams, who disclosed this at a press briefing, said the new policy was informed by a situation where nursing mothers leave their new born in the hands of care givers as early as six weeks in order to return to work.

The new policy has just been approved by the State Executive Council (SEC), Williams added. She said government was concerned about the trend that parents spend more time at work place at the expense of the home front, saying such was detrimental to the basic developmental needs of children and often account for a number of societal ills.

“Medical science has also proved that the first few months of a child’s life has a great deal to play in the latter development of that child physically, mentally and emotionally. However, at six months, that is 24 weeks, a baby is considered strong enough to be left in a decent crèche for proper care having gone through close affection and nurturing by the mother for those important and delicate first few months of his or her life.”

The Head of Service expressed optimism that the new leave policy, expected to take effect immediately, will go a long way to advance a balanced family-work life “with the ultimate intent of having future leaders who, as neonates, had enjoyed parental care and affection”.

Outlining the health benefit of the new policy, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Yewande Adeshina, said aside the opportunity it presents for mother and child to enjoy emotional and social bond, the advocacy for six months exclusive breastfeeding can now be achieved without any hindrance.

Mothers will also have no excuse not to take their children for the regular immunisation within the period and also monitor the health of their babies adequately. “It would allow the mothers stay with their children so they can sense when they are having a fever, when they are feeding well and seek intervention early, this will go a long way to check the cases of maternal and child mortality. With the policy, both the babies and mothers are winners.”