From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has commended the Nasarawa State Government, led by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, for approving six months of paid maternity leave and 14 days of paternity leave for public servants.
In a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, CS-SUNN Executive Secretary, Sunday Okoronkwo, hailed the move as a “transformative investment in Maternal and Child Nutrition Security”.
“Nasarwa has proudly joined the league of states that have approved six months paid maternity leave, including Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Niger, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ondo, Kebbi, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, Abia, Anambra, and Plateau,” Okoronkwo said.
He noted that the approval aligns with global best practices and the World Health Organization’s recommendations on exclusive breastfeeding, marking a bold and visionary step towards safeguarding the health and future of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens – women and children.
“This policy represents a high-return investment in human capital: it will boost workforce productivity, improve nutrition outcomes, and position the state for better sustainable development,” Okoronkwo added. He highlighted the profound and far-reaching benefits of the approval, including reduced infant mortality, enhanced cognitive development, and stronger social cohesion.
CS-SUNN has been advocating for this policy for over a decade, and the organization’s efforts have yielded commendable progress, including Nasarawa State’s allocation of ₦250 million to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). The group acknowledged the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria and other key allies within the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.
“We call on other state governments yet to give approval to emulate this progressive step and scale up nutrition,” Okoronkwo said. He tasked development partners and stakeholders with continuing to support evidence-based nutrition policies.
CS-SUNN reiterated its commitment to working with the Nasarawa State Government and all stakeholders to ensure that the policy translates into measurable improvements in nutrition outcomes and overall human development. “This policy is more than an administrative reform; it is a strategic investment in the future of Nasarawa State,” Okoronkwo concluded.
