Yobe assembly proposes six-month maternity leave

The Yobe State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm of government to extend maternity leave for nursing mothers from four to six months.

The Speaker, Alhaji Chiroma Mashio, made the call during plenary in Damaturu on Wednesday, after the assembly considered and adopted a motion on the extension.

Mashio subsequently directed the Clerk of the House to formally communicate the resolution to the executive for necessary action.

Earlier, the Chairman, House Standing Committee on Health, Honourable Kachalla Maina, who moved the motion, said the extension will support efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

Maina explained that the proposed extension will enable mothers to practice the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding, improve child nutrition and safeguard the health of both mothers and infants.

He noted that statistics showed more than 60 percent of newborns in Yobe were not exclusively breastfed for six months, exposing them to preventable illnesses and developmental challenges.

According to him, states such as Ondo, Kwara, Niger, Lagos and Ogun have already extended maternity leave to six months to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

Maina urged lawmakers to support the motion, describing it as a critical step towards improving child survival rates, strengthening family health and supporting working mothers across the state.

Contributing, the House Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, described the motion as timely, noting that malnutrition and inadequate breastfeeding were among the causes of under-five mortality in Yobe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the motion received overwhelming support from members of the assembly.