Bauchi Assembly To Enact Maternity Extension Law

As part of efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding and boost child survival, the Bauchi State House of Assembly is to enact a law that will increase maternity leave to six months from the present three months in order to give lactating mothers enough time to exclusively breastfeed their babies in line with infant health requirements.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Honourable Lawal Dauda, while speaking in Azare on Wednesday, at a Media Dialogue organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, to commemorate the 2023 annual World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).
Hon. Dauda, who represents Sade State Constituency, said that the proposed law when enacted, would promote best breastfeeding practices and save the lives of children under the age of five.
According to him, there have been agitations by stakeholders and international partners to extend maternity leave to support the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and healthy children in the state.
The lawmaker said, “We also had a brainstorming meeting with key stakeholders, including donor partners, on enabling breastfeeding for working mothers at the workplaces across the state.
“As members of the House of Assembly representing our constituents, we will ensure that there are improved breastfeeding practices that have the potential to save the lives of many children under five years”.
He added that “At a recent plenary session after the workshop, the House reviewed the need to extend the current maternity from three months to six months.
“ The request by Her Excellency, the First Lady of Bauchi State, was to make it to be six months. The Assembly members are committed to ensuring that we pass that law.
“I assure you that since the First Lady is in the picture of what transpired there, she will encourage her husband to implement that law, God willing.
“Our responsibility is to pass a law and I assure you that law will be history and Bauchi will be the first in the North East to pass that law.’’