Zamfara Nursing Mothers Get 6-Month Maternity Leave

The Zamfara State government has approved six months of maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state.

The State Head of Service, Yakubu Sani Haidara, revealed this in a circular presented to the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN),

led by the Zamfara State coordinator, Kabiru Isah Jangeru, on Thursday.

Yakubu Haidara revealed that a memo had been submitted to Governor Dauda Lawal seeking approval for three requests, but only the request for six months of maternity leave was approved.

“We are on the same page in your advocacy. The state governor has approved six months of maternity leave,” he said.

Earlier, the Zamfara State CS-SUNN coordinator, Kabiru Isah Jangeru, explained that the Office of the Head of Service is one of the key institutions for implementing the state’s nutrition blueprint.

“We are at the Head of Service’s office to intimate him that CS-SUNN in Zamfara advocates for three essential things. These include six months of maternity leave, increased budgetary allocation for child nutrition, and budget tracking,” he said.

The state coordinator further urged the Zamfara State Government to establish nutrition desk officers in line ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) across the state.