Breastfeeding: Kebbi Approves 6-month Maternity Leave

Kebbi State government has approved the implementation of a 6-month maternity leave for pregnant workers.

The leave, according to the government, is to enable exclusive breastfeeding for newborn children by their mothers.

Governor Nasir Idris approved the request by the UNICEF officials who visited him yesterday at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

Idris told UNICEF officials that the executive arm will soon forward a bill to the state legislature to enact a law supporting the initiative.

Similarly, the governor added that the government would approve other UNICEF funds to tackle malnutrition.

“I have already directed the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs to ensure the release of N261 million, which has already been captured in the budget, and also directed the commissioner of finance to release N500 million to UNICEF for these two requests made to the government,” Idris said.

The head of the UNICEF Sokoto office, Mr Michael Juma, while appreciating the governor’s gesture, assured that the funds will be used to procure essential nutrition commodities that will curb malnutrition in the state.