Kwara State has joined a select group of ten Nigerian states recognized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for offering six months of fully paid maternity leave to female public servants.
Other states that have adopted this progressive policy include Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Lagos, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, and Plateau.
Kwara earned its spot on the list following the recent approval by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to extend maternity leave from three to six months. This decision builds on a similar move made by the administration in August 2023 and highlights its continued focus on workers’ welfare.
Governor AbdulRazaq’s directive underscores his administration’s dedication to supporting nursing mothers, promoting early childhood care, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance for female civil servants in the state.