The Oyo State government, said on Thursday that plans were afoot to extend the duration of maternity leave for pregnant and nursing mothers in its employment, from four to six months while men would also begin to enjoy paternity leave soon.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni made the disclosure at a 2-day workshop on ‘Safe Motherhood’, organized by Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo state chapter.
According to her, the extension was necessary so that adequate care would be given to the newborns while the mothers also have the privilege of taking adequate care of themselves.
She said the present administration under the leadership of Gov. Seyi Makinde supports every key aspect of motherhood in order to promote well being of women and children in the state.
The commissioner noted that the administration has been promoting, educating, empowering, protecting children and women from all forms of abuse, while also supporting them financially.
Stressing the importance of safe motherhood, Sanni noted that it should be on the front burner of discussions for every government.
In her own remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs And Community Development, Mrs Wumi Oladeji, noted that the state’s House of Assembly has contributed its quota to Safe Motherhood in the state.
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She said the Assembly has been gender-friendly and has enacted laws to protect the interest of women and children.
Oladeji observed that Oyo state House of Assembly was the first to domesticate the Child Rights Law (2006) in the country.
She identified other gender-friendly laws enacted by the House as Violence Against Women (2016), Oyo State Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternity Services Law, (2019), Oyo State Kidnapping (Prohibition) Law, (2016).
She added that some bills which seek to protect women’s interests were still being processed by the House.
They include the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2019; Child Sexual Offences Bill, (2019); and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team and Referral Centre Bill, (2020), she stated.
Declaring the workshop open, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun said, Oyo state government has been doing its best to reduce the suffering of women.
He said with free education policy, most women have been able to send their children to school as the majority of them used to bear the burden of taking care of the home front.
The 2-day workshop is being held at Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
