FCT Urged To Prioritise Child Nutrition, Implement 6-month Paid Maternity Leave

A group, Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN),  has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to urgently improve investment in child and maternal nutrition and implement the long-demanded six-month paid maternity leave to improve health outcomes for women and children in the territory.

The executive secretary of CS-SUNN, Mr Sunday Okoarankwa, made the call at a media dialogue and stakeholder engagement on the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and Maternity Protection Policies on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said FCT was at a “defining moment” in addressing its growing malnutrition burden, warning  that malnutrition is no longer merely a health issue but a major economic threat.

“Countries that neglect nutrition pay a heavy price. A study shows that malnourished children will earn 20 per cent less as adults, while nations may lose as much as 11 per cent of their GDP due to the far-reaching consequences of malnutrition. This is a cost Nigeria and indeed the FCT cannot afford to bear,” he said.

Despite being the nation’s capital, FCT continues to struggle with worrying nutrition statistics. According to the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 16 per cent of children in the territory are stunted, 7 per cent are wasted and 22 per cent are underweight. Only 29 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.

Okoarankwa also noted that micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread, with “nearly half of women of reproductive age and more than two-thirds of children under five affected by anaemia.”

He further highlighted the rising double burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition exists alongside growing cases of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, putting additional pressure on families and the health system.

Okoarankwa said the Child Nutrition Fund offers the FCT a “transformative opportunity” to scale up lifesaving nutrition interventions.

He explained that the fund is designed to help governments mobilise co-financing for high-impact interventions such as multiple micronutrient supplementation, management of acute malnutrition and strengthening nutrition integration into routine health services.

“Unlocking these opportunities requires deliberate commitment, particularly in the form of counterpart funding and strong policy alignment,” he said.

Okoarankwa stressed that implementing six-month paid maternity leave is one of the most effective ways to improve child survival, enhance cognitive development and reduce healthcare costs.

“Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is one of the most effective ways to protect children from infections, enhance cognitive development and reduce healthcare costs. Yet many mothers in the FCT are unable to practice this due to workplace constraints and inadequate policy support,” he said.

He urged the FCTA to adopt and implement the policy without delay, describing it as a bold step toward safeguarding child health and supporting a productive workforce.

CS-SUNN also called on the media to use their platforms to shape public discourse, influence policies and hold government accountable.

“You are powerful agents of change. By telling compelling, data-driven and human-centred stories on nutrition, you can ensure that the voices of mothers and children are heard and that commitments made today translate into real impact,” Okoarankwa told journalists.

He noted that with nearly 1,000 health facilities, high skilled birth attendance and strong access to water and sanitation services,  FCT already has the foundation needed to scale up nutrition interventions requiring only political will and coordinated investment.

The Executive Secretary urged the FCT to set the pace for other states, noting that decisions made now will determine future development outcomes.

“The FCT holds a unique position to set the pace for innovation, leadership and accountability in nutrition governance. This moment presents a critical opportunity to demonstrate what is possible when political will is matched with deliberate investment and coordinated action,” he said.

He called for nutrition to be institutionalised as a central development priority, backed by adequate financing, strong governance and accountability mechanisms.