Good News to Mothers as Government increased maternity leave period by 4 weeks
-Ojo Oluwasegun
This is really a good news to all mothers in Ekiti State as Ekiti State Government announced 4 weeks increase in the maternity leave period.
The Ekiti State Government (EKSG) on Monday announced an increase in the maternity leave period for women in its public service from 12 weeks to 16 weeks.
This was announced by the Secretary in the State Ministry of Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Kola Ajumobi, said this at a public enlightenment forum in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
According to him, the motion was approved by the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, as part of his display of love and special regard for the womenfolk in the state.
He added that it was to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for newly born children in the first six months of birth and also to promote good nutrition for both mothers and their newborn children.
He further added that in addition to the four months, nursing mothers would also be granted two hours off duty every day for a period of six months from the date they resumed from maternity leave.
Ajumobi stressed that the commitment of the Fayose-led administration toward the reduction in mothers and children’s mortality and morbidity rate to the barest minimum remains sacrosanct.
He said the crèche at the state secretariat had also been invigorated to boost bonding between mothers and their children during official working hours without undue hindrance to performance and efficiency at the workplace.
He lamented that lack of good nutrition; poverty, hunger as well as the lack of access to economic and political empowerment had largely contributed to high maternal and child mortality.
Ajumobi noted that the present administration in the state would continue to roll out various palliative packages exclusively for women to empower and guard them against avoidable travails.
Ajumobi said such measures already in existence include the provision of N500million as revolving soft-loan to promote small and medium Enterprises driven by women.
He added that women farmers were being supported with various incentives. He stressed that government has also encouraged women to have access to political power.
