Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Zamfara State Government has approved six months of maternity leave for female civil servants, a landmark policy shift aimed at promoting exclusive breastfeeding, improving maternal and child health, and reducing the high rate of child malnutrition in one of Nigeria's most nutritionally vulnerable states. The announcement was made on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in Gusau by the State Head of Service, Yakubu Haidara, while receiving a delegation from the Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN). The approval, granted by Governor Dauda Lawal, extends the statutory maternity leave period from the current national standard of four months to six months, aligning Zamfara with global recommendations from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, which advocate exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life as one of the most effective interventions for reducing infant mortality, improving child nutrition, and supporting healthy growth and development.
According to Haidara, the policy reflects Governor Lawal's commitment to tackling child malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes for infants across the state. He explained that the extended maternity leave would allow mothers adequate time to recover after childbirth, reduce the risk of postpartum depression, support exclusive breastfeeding, and strengthen the bond between mothers and their babies. "It provides essential time for physical recovery, prevents postpartum depression, facilitates exclusive breastfeeding and promotes vital emotional bonding," Haidara said. He noted that the period immediately after childbirth is critical for both mother and child, and that adequate maternity leave enables women to focus on their health without the pressure of returning to work too early. He also recalled that Governor Lawal approved N500 million in counterpart funding for nutrition programmes last year and expressed optimism that the administration would sustain or even increase its investment in nutrition this year. "I believe this year also the governor will do the same or even more for nutrition activities in the state," he said.
The Head of Service also welcomed the advocacy team, saying the government and civil society shared the common objective of protecting children and securing healthier future generations. He assured the delegation that the state government would continue to collaborate with development partners and civil society organisations to combat child malnutrition. The approval followed sustained advocacy by CS-SUNN, which, with support from UNICEF, had been pushing for increased funding for nutrition programmes and the adoption of a six-month maternity leave policy to encourage exclusive breastfeeding. The organisation had submitted a memo to Governor Lawal seeking approval for three requests, but only the request for six months of maternity leave was approved, according to Haidara. The other requests included increased budgetary allocation for child nutrition and budget tracking.
Earlier, the CS-SUNN State Coordinator, Kabiru Jangeru, described the governor's approval as a significant milestone in efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition in Zamfara. He said malnutrition remained a major threat to child survival, requiring sustained investment, policy support, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders. "We appreciate the governor for the kind gesture and quick response to our advocacy," Jangeru said. He also commended the Head of Service for facilitating the engagements that culminated in the approval of the extended maternity leave policy. He further urged the Zamfara State Government to establish nutrition desk officers in line ministries, departments, and agencies across the state.
The policy is expected to provide working mothers with the time needed to exclusively breastfeed their babies while recovering from childbirth. The move aligns with the Nigerian Governors' Wives Forum's advocacy for the implementation of six months of paid maternity leave across all 36 states, and follows similar decisions by other states, including Ekiti, which approved six-month maternity leave for workers in its public service in 2020. For Zamfara, where malnutrition rates remain among the highest in the country, the policy represents a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of its youngest citizens. As Haidara put it: "I believe we are all working towards protecting our children and ensuring good health for future generations."
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