The Ekiti State Government (EKSG) on Monday announced an
increase in the maternity leave period for women in its public service from 12
weeks to 16 weeks.
The
Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Information, Youth and Sports
Development, Mr. Kola Ajumobi, said this at a public enlightenment forum in Ado
Ekiti, the state capital.
He
said that
the gesture was approved by the state governor, Mr Ayodele
Fayose, as part of his display of love and special regard for the
womenfolk in the state.
He
said it was also aimed at encouraging exclusive breast feeding for newly born
children in the first six months of birth.
It
is also meant to promote good nutrition for both mothers and their new born
children, he said.
Ajumobi
said that nursing mothers would, in addition to the four months, be granted two
hours’ off duty everyday for a period of six months from the date they resumed
from maternity leave.
According
to him, the commitment of the Fayose-led administration to the reduction in
mothers and children’s mortality and morbidity rate to the barest minimum
remains sacrosanct.
Ajumobi
said the crèche at the state secretariat had also been invigorated to boost
bonding between mothers and their children during official working hours
without undue hindrance to performance and efficiency at the workplace.
The
permanent secretary lamented that lack of good nutrition; poverty, hunger as
well as lack of access to economic and political empowerment had largely
contributed to high maternal and child mortality.
He,
however, noted that the present administration in the state would continue to
roll out various palliative packages exclusively for women to empower and guard
them from avoidable travails.
Ajumobi
said such measures already in existence include the provision of N500million as
revolving soft-loan to promote small and medium Enterprises driven by women.
Also,
women farmers were being supported with various incentives, he said.
According to him, government has also encouraged women’s access to political
power.
Harmful traditional practices to woman’s nutritional and
sexual reproductive health, such as widowhood rites and inheritance had become
criminal offences in the state, he said.
He said that rapists and wife beaters now face life sentences
in the state
...thenation
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