Coalition Urges Adoption Of Uniform Paid Parental Leave Policy Nationwide

Advocates and policy stakeholders under the aegis of the Nigeria Women in Leadership (WIL) Coalition have called on the federal government to enforce a uniform paid parental leave policy across Nigeria, aimed at boosting productivity, strengthening family welfare, and improving child development across both public and private sectors.

They made the call yesterday in Abuja during the unveiling of the “Best Start Campaign” at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

The campaign is a national advocacy initiative pushing for the adoption of a fully paid 16-week maternity leave and a two-week paternity leave for all workers, regardless of sector or employment type.

On behalf of the coalition, Ms Ekemini Akpakpan, executive secretary of Women in Successful Careers, urged the government to establish a harmonised national framework mandating 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and 14 days of fully paid paternity leave across all sectors.

She noted that under the revised Public Service Rules 2021 approved by the Federal Executive Council, male federal civil servants are entitled to 14 working days of paternity leave, limited to once every two years for up to four children.

Akpakpan also explained that the Nigerian Labour Act currently provides for 12 weeks of maternity leave—six weeks before and six weeks after childbirth—with at least 50 percent salary paid by employers, alongside protections against dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave.

However, stakeholders observed that implementation remains inconsistent across states, industries, and organisations, leading to unequal access to parental leave benefits and weak enforcement of labour standards nationwide.

“It is very important for labour reforms. Standardisation across public and private sectors requires a legal framework to ensure full pay, adequate duration, and compliance monitoring,” Akpakpan said.

She added that improved parental leave policies would enable parents to be present during critical stages of early child development, while also supporting maternal recovery and encouraging greater paternal involvement in childcare.

Akpakpan further argued that concerns about the cost of implementation should be balanced against long-term productivity gains, noting that stronger support systems improve staff retention and workplace efficiency.

“Without adequate support, workers cannot remain effective, and organisations ultimately lose skilled and experienced personnel,” she said.

Sharing a personal experience, a nurse, Mrs. Priscilla Sanshima, recounted how her daughter resumed work just 12 weeks after undergoing a caesarean section, stressing that recovery was still incomplete at that stage.

“After surgery, recovery is incomplete, and early resumption affects productivity and overall wellbeing significantly,” she said, adding that full pay during extended leave would ease pressure on families.

Mr. Honesty Chukwuma described paternity leave as essential for bonding and family support.

“It strengthens families, improves child development, and allows fathers to actively participate in early stages of life, which is critical for long-term stability,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Regina Solomon, a mother of two, emphasised the importance of paternal involvement in the early weeks after childbirth, noting that shared caregiving strengthens emotional bonds within families.

Mr. Joshua Animata, a businessman, said he once had to temporarily shut down his business to support his wife after childbirth, adding that structured leave policies would reduce such pressures on families.

The coalition called for strong legal backing, transparent enforcement mechanisms, and nationwide compliance monitoring to ensure uniform implementation across all sectors.

They maintained that a standardised parental leave system would eliminate workplace discrimination, strengthen families, improve workforce stability, and contribute to long-term national development.