Father and son. [File photo]
Newsone reports that the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved a 14-day paternity leave to make federal male workers properly bond with their newborn babies or adopted ones.
This online news platform understands that the development was made known on Wednesday, September 29, by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan, while speaking with newsmen at the State House, Abuja at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Yemi-Esan, who spoke in the company of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, explained that the paternity leave was approved for men when their wives deliver new babies.
The HOS said the bonding is important to help the newly born or adopted baby properly bond with the father at the early period just like the baby bonds with the mother.
Newsone reports that the 14 days paternity leave is coming months after the federal government approved paternity leave for staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami, while speaking at an unveiling ceremony for the presentation of NITDA’s employee-centric conditions of service, held in Abuja, had said the development was in line with the new service scheme for workers at the agency.
Prior to the approval for NITDA staff in March 2021, there was no provision for paternity leave for civil servants, while female employees are entitled to three months of maternity leave.
In 2018, the House of Representatives, rejected a bill seeking to grant paternity leave to married men.
Meanwhile, Newsone Nigeria reports that a few states in Nigeria — including Lagos and Enugu — have approved paternity leave for employees.