The Nigerian Government has approved two weeks of paternity leave for new fathers in the Federal Public Service.
This was disclosed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan who said the approval was just one of many major reforms planned for the Federal bureaucracy.
“The last time we reviewed the Public Service Rules was in 2008 so the need for reform is urgent,” Mrs Yemi-Esan said.
“Paternity leave is the leave that is approved for men, when their spouses or wives have given birth to a newborn baby; or if the husband and wife have just adopted a baby of less than four months.”
She said it had been approved so that men and their babies could bond well together.
“It’s important because we want the young children and the youth to really bond properly with their fathers, just as they bond well with their mothers,” Mrs Yemi-Esan said.
Nigeria’s current Public Service rules allow for four months of maternity leave for new mothers — a month before birth and three months after birth.
Also, nursing mothers are permitted to leave work early upon their resumption until the baby is six months old.
In further changes, Mrs Yemi-Esan said guidelines had been introduced to make virtual meetings a permanent part of Public Service work.
“Workers’ leave is now calculated based on working days not on calendar days,” she said.
Abuja, 1 October 2021
