The Federal Government has approved a 14-day paternity leave to make federal male workers properly bond with their newborn babies or adopted ones.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this known on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen at the State House, Abuja at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
The HOS, who spoke in the company of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, explained that the paternity leave was approved for men when their wives deliver new babies.
According to her, bonding is important to help the newly born or adopted baby properly bond with the father at the early period just like the baby bonds with the mother.
“Paternity leave is the leave that is approved for men, when their spouses or wives have given birth to a newborn baby; or if the husband and wife have just adopted a baby of less than four months, then the man is entitled to paternity leave of about 14 days.
“So, that is what has been approved for men. So that the men and their babies also can bond well together. It’s important because we want the young children and the youth to really bond properly with their fathers, just as they bond well with their mothers.” she said.
“So, this is the time that has been approved now, for men to bond at the early stages, especially at the early stages of a child’s life, that is when it’s very important for this bonding to take place,” she said.
Nigeria’s current civil service rule allows for four months of maternity leave for new mothers.
A month is given to pregnant mothers before birth and three months after birth.
Also, nursing mothers are also permitted to close early upon resumption until the baby is six months old.