Lagos okays six-month maternity leave, 10 days for
fathers
JULY 17, 2014 BY SESAN OLUFOWOBI

The Lagos State Government has introduced a 10-day
paternity leave for male civil servants and extended maternity
leave for female worker to six months.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Bagauda Kaltho
Press Centre, Alausa, the state Head of Service, Mrs Josephine
Williams, said the new leave regime was meant to reduce the
negative implication of the extensive work life of parents, who
are civil servants in the state.
She said, “A female officer shall be entitled to twenty-four
weeks maternity leave with full pay in case of her first two
deliveries. The said leave shall commence, at least two weeks
before the expected delivery date; a male officer, to who a
new baby (or babies in case of multiple births) is born shall be
entitled to 10 working days.”
Williams added that subsequent deliveries by any employees
would attract only 12 weeks maternity leave for the female
officer, while the male officer would not be entitled to the 10-
day leave.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr.
Yewande Adeshina, said the six-month leave would enable the
nursing female public servants to implement the
recommended six months exclusive breast feeding.
“At six months or 24 weeks, a baby is considered strong
enough to be left in decent crèche for proper care having
gone through close affection and nurturing by mother,” she
said. www.punchng.com/news/lagos-okays-six-month-maternity-leave-10-days-for-fathers/