By Nasir Shuaibu
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Bauchi State Chapter, has called for the effective implementation of the state government’s six-month paid maternity leave policy to support exclusive breastfeeding and improve maternal and child health.
The organisation made the call today during its quarterly advocacy visit to the Head of Service, Bauchi State, under the UNICEF-supported Partnerships on Increasing Investment in Nutrition Project.
The State Coordinator, Dabis Mwalike commended the Head of Service for his support and commitment to policies promoting maternal and child health, noting that Bauchi is among the 21 states in Nigeria that have approved six months of paid maternity leave.
She also commended the state government for incorporating the provision into the recently revised Civil Service Regulations.
While presenting the advocacy demands, the coordinator urged the Head of Service to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the policy, as well as the establishment of crèches across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
She said the provision of crèches would enable working and nursing mothers to keep their babies in a safe and supportive environment while continuing exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
Responding, the Head of Service, Barrister Mohammed Sani Umar Disina, appreciated CS-SUNN for its sustained advocacy, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for mothers to breastfeed their babies.
He pledged to issue a circular on the six-month paid maternity leave policy to sensitise civil servants and ensure eligible women are adequately informed about their entitlements.
Disina also expressed readiness to facilitate the establishment of crèches in MDAs to provide safe spaces for babies of working and nursing mothers during working hours.
The stakeholders stressed the need to translate the commitments into concrete action, noting that sustained institutional support would be critical to ensuring the effective implementation of the policy and advancing maternal and child health in Bauchi State.
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