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The Zamfara State government has approved six months of maternity leave for female civil servants to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve maternal and child health, the State Head of Service announced on Thursday.
Yakubu Haidara disclosed the approval in Gusau while receiving a delegation from the Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), which had advocated for extended leave, increased nutrition funding and effective budget tracking.
Haidara said the approval reflected Governor Dauda Lawal’s commitment to strengthening exclusive breastfeeding and improving infant nutrition outcomes across the state.
“I believe the governor’s approval is aimed at addressing malnutrition among children in the state,” Haidara said.
According to him, maternity leave is crucial for promoting healthier families and better child development while safeguarding expectant mothers and their unborn children.
“It provides essential time for physical recovery, prevents postpartum depression, facilitates exclusive breastfeeding and promotes vital emotional bonding,” he said.
Haidara recalled that Lawal approved N500 million in counterpart funding for nutrition activities last year to strengthen interventions across Zamfara.
He said he was confident the governor would maintain, or even increase, funding this year due to the governor’s dedication to enhancing nutrition programmes across the state.
“I believe this year also the governor will do the same or even more for nutrition activities in the state,” he said.
To fight child malnutrition, Haidara promised the delegation that the state government would continue working with development partners and civil society organisations.
Kabiru Jangeru, the CS-SUNN State Coordinator, had earlier called the approval a major step forward in advancing maternal and child nutrition.
According to Jangeru, malnutrition continues to pose a serious threat to children’s survival, necessitating ongoing funding, policy support, and improved stakeholder cooperation.
“We are working with UNICEF support to advocate enhanced nutrition funding and exclusive breastfeeding among children,” he said.
He claimed that allowing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for six months would greatly improve children’s health and reduce malnutrition.
“We appreciate the governor for the kind gesture and quick response to our advocacy,” Jangeru said.
