Katsina: The Katsina State Government has approved the extension of maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state’s civil service to four months and 10 days. The Principal Private Secretary to Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu-Turaji, announced this development while receiving officials of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) during a courtesy visit.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the decision to extend maternity leave was made during the State Executive Council meetings. Aliyu-Turaji explained that the extension from three months was considered in accordance with the ‘Iddah’, a compulsory period during which widows remain indoors following their husband’s death.
Additionally, the Secretary of the CS-SUNN Katsina Chapter, Mr AbdurRahman Abdullahi, stated that the visit aimed to advocate for a government policy providing six-month maternity leave for lactating mothers. He emphasized the importance of increased funding and timely release of Child Nutrition Funds, particularly the one-to-one matching grant for nutrition-sensitive interventions.
Mr Muna Nzelibe, the CS-SUNN Programme Officer, highlighted that improved investment in nutrition is crucial for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and the well-being of Nigerians. He pointed out that malnutrition affects one in three people globally, and Nigeria has the second-highest number of stunted children, making this a significant public health concern in Katsina.
The breakfast meeting discussed the extension of paid maternity leave from three to six months with full pay and raised awareness for the Child Nutrition Fund. Nzelibe underscored the need for adequate funding for nutrition activities in the state, calling on the state primary health care agency and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to ensure this.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of job security and supportive workplaces for working mothers, as well as maintaining synergy with the State House of Assembly on nutrition-related issues. The event, hosted by the CS-SUNN with support from UNICEF, brought together diverse participants, including Dr Kamal Kabir, Coordinator of the state’s Community Development Programme, who assured adequate support in the nutrition aspect.