The Federal government has increased maternity leave of women in the civil service to four months. Minister of Labor and Employment, Chris Ngige, announced this when he
spoke at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC), in Geneva,
Switzerland, yesterday June 5th.
Ngige said the extension was to allow the mother and child enough
time to recuperate and bond and also for women to breastfeed their
babies well. He also anounced that employers of labor have been barred
from terminating the appointment of women because of their marital or
maternity status.
“Employers of labour (in Nigeria) are, by regulation, requested to
provide workplace crèches for nursing mothers for ease at work place. In
the public service, government recently increased the period for
maternity leave from 12 to 16 weeks; to allow enough recuperation for
both baby and mother, especially in the area of breast feeding. In
addition, all disciplinary proceedings against any female staff, which
might have been taken during the period of her maternity leave shall be
put in abeyance till the expiration of the leave. Employers of labour
are also barred from removal of women from work due to their marital or
maternity status, illegal labour migration, contract staffing and labour
casualisation which affects most women, are being reformed through
policies and regulations at national, bilateral and multilateral
levels” he said