Osun Government Will Authorize Six-month Maternity Leave

Governor Ademola Adeleke 

The Osun State civil service will shortly begin offering six months of maternity leave to nursing mothers.

Dr. Akindele Adekunle, the special advisor to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on public health, announced this on Tuesday at a one-day conference in Osogbo to celebrate breastfeeding environments that support working women.

Dr. Akindele insisted that the administration was following the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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.

He also gave the governor's word that he was prepared to renovate the primary and secondary health facilities all over Osun State.

In addition to lending her voice to the issue, the governor's wife, Titilola Adeleke, also expressed her willingness to lobby for and collaborate with pertinent stakeholders to achieve the agenda's realization.

"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.