The Special Adviser to Governor Fayemi on Development Partnership,
Mrs. Margaret Fagboyo, has called on the members of the House of
Assembly to consider for passage, the proposed bill for six months
Maternity leave and two weeks Paternity leave for Ekiti workers.
Mrs. Fagboyo made the call during an advocacy meeting organised by
UNICEF for members of the EKHA in Ado-EKiti for the proposed elongated
Maternity and two weeks Paternity leaves.
She said that parental presence during the first few months of the
arrival of the baby constitutes a significant investment on the
wellbeing of the child.
The Special Adviser lent her voice in support of an increase in the
Maternity Leave from 4 Months to 6 Months to encourage exclusive
breast feeding of babies and give enough time for recovery after
pregnancy alongside labour of the mother.
She equally supported that the proposed 2 weeks paternity leave for
men whose wives just gave birth should commence immediately after the
birth of the baby to assist the mother, affirming that all these
measures would reduce the risk of infant mortality and also increase
the likelihood that babies would receive good parental attention and
care to get the necessary vaccinations.
Fagboyo said that parental leave is an important accommodation
designed to increase the ability of the family to balance the needs of
the workplace and home to help the nation to develop, adding that
parental full presence and attendance to a baby at its arrival,
constitute very important investment in the wellbeing of the child and
the mother.
She said also that investing in human resources and assistance to the
movers of government policies would give good balance in the
continuous maximal contribution to the Nations’ Economic Development.