Advocates have urged Federal Government to enforce uniform paid parental leave policy to boost productivity family welfare child development nationwide across public and private sectors immediately for consistency standards compliance enforcement.
They made the call during awareness campaign on Monday in Abuja at Ministry of Labor and Productivity by Nigerian Women in Leadership Coalition stressing gaps implementation across public private sectors nationwide urgently addressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the revised Public Service Rules 2021, approved 14-working-day paternity leave for male federal civil servants not exceeding once in two years for up to four children.
Under Nigerian Labor Act pregnant workers are entitled to 12 weeks maternity leave six weeks before and six after birth with at least 50 per cent salary paid by employer provision.
The law applies to both public and private sectors requiring a medical certificate with protection against dismissal during this period for eligible pregnant employees across workplaces nationwide enforcement required strictly mandated.
However implementation varies widely across states sectors and organizations without consistent enforcement nationwide creating unequal access to parental leave benefits and undermining labor standards across country.
Representing coalition Ms Ekemini Akpapan Executive Secretary WISCAR, said coalition urging 16 weeks maternity and 14 days paternity fully paid enforced across sectors uniformity standardization nationwide policy harmonization advocacy push ongoing.
“It is very important for labor reforms policies are fragmented Standardization across public and private sectors requires a legal framework ensuring full pay adequate duration compliance monitoring,”
She added policy ensured parents were present for families mothers recovered fully while fathers’ involvement supported early child development bonding and productivity when they returned to work.
Akpapan noted concerns about costs adding that support improved productivity and retention for organizations ultimately benefiting workforce stability and long-term economic performance significantly across sectors national development outcomes strongly enhanced overall.
“Without adequate support workers cannot remain effective and organizations ultimately lose skilled experienced personnel reducing productivity and increasing turnover costs for employers across sectors nationwide if reforms are not implemented properly.
“After surgery recovery is incomplete and early work resumption affects productivity and wellbeing.
“Some private organizations pay half salaries Advocates call for full 16-week maternity and two-week paternity leave policy implementation.
“It is a privilege that strengthens families improves child development and allows fathers to actively participate during early life stages critical for long-term growth and stability of children within households nationwide.
“Children should enjoy both parents without early interaction they bond more with mothers alone affecting familiarity and emotional connection with fathers during formative developmental stages of life and child bonding outcomes.”
Mr Joshua Animata a businessman, said he closed his business to care for his child and mother after birth as she was too weak to manage responsibilities alone during recovery period.
Advocates called for legal backing transparency and nationwide compliance monitoring stressing that uniform implementation across all sectors would eliminate discrimination and strengthen families workforce stability and national development outcomes significantly improved.(NAN)
