The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the right to 14-day paternity leave for male civil servants in the country.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, announced this while briefing State House reporters after the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
She said this is to enable for proper bonding between the father and a newborn, either natural-born or adopted, especially at the early stages of the child’s life.
Yemi -Esan said fathers of adopted babies of less than four months will also enjoy this gesture approved for federal civil servants.
Earlier in March, the federal government approved paternity leave for male staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Nigeria’s minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Pantami disclosed this at the unveiling and presentation of NITDA’s Employee-Centric Condition and Scheme of Service in Abuja.
The minister said the development is part of the new scheme of service for staff of the agency.
Female employees in private and public sectors are entitled to three months of maternity leave when they give birth, the current provision for their male counterparts has been lauded.