The Ondo State Government on Wednesday disclosed that it has approved the extension of the maternity leave period for its female workers from three to six months.
According to the government, the move became necessary in order to build a society where children receive the necessary maternal care, which should be exclusive in the first six months.
The state government’s decision was disclosed by the Head of Service, Kayode Ogundele, while receiving members of the Federation of Women Lawyers, Ondo State Chapter, in his office in Akure, the state capital.
Ogundele noted that, “aside from adequate care, mothers would be able to give their newborn babies during the leave period; such mothers would be more focused and productive when they resumed work because all of the initial child-rearing challenges would have been adequately addressed during the leave period.”
He applauded the group for its complementary roles in alleviating the societal plights of women and children.
Speaking earlier, Mrs Catherine Ogunjebi, the body’s chairperson advocated for the abolition of some seeming encumbrances in the administration of maternity leave for female civil servants, irrespective of their marital status.
She also pleaded for the elevation of female lawyers in the service of the state to the position of permanent secretaries.