Nursing mothers in the civil service of Osun State would soon start enjoying six months maternity leave.
The Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Public Health, Dr Akindele Adekunle made this known at a one day symposium on celebrating enabling breastfeeding environment for working mothers in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Dr Akindele maintained that the government was toeing the line with the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommendations.
In his words, “This is in concerted effort with the Wives of Nigerian Governors’ Forum advocacy for approval of six months paid maternity leave for nursing mothers.
“Governor Adeleke is set to send a bill to the House of Assembly and domesticate enabling laws to this effect.
“I’m happy to inform all our nursing mothers in our different offices that as a listening and people loving Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has promised to send a bill to the House of Assembly to enact enabling laws to make maternity leave six months for nursing mothers in a bid to allow them to be able to tend to their babies and encourage them to breastfeed their babies exclusively for six months as recommended by the W.H.O.
“But I will plead and advise this gathering and the entire public that whenever there’s any public hearing by the House of Assembly concerning the bill, all stakeholders must raise their voice in support of the bill.”
He also assured of the governor’s readiness to carry out a face-lift of the primary and secondary health facilities across the length and breadth of Osun State.
Lending her voice to the subject matter, the wife of the Governor, Titilola Adeleke also affirmed her readiness to advocate and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the realisation of the agenda.
“I use this medium to tell this gathering that I am committed and will work tirelessly with other critical stakeholders to ensure the approval of six months paid maternity leave and other favourable maternal policies for working mothers in the State,” the Governor’s wife stated.
