Abia Assembly Approves Paternity Leave For Men

The Abia House of Assembly has approved maternity leave for men.

The motion was passed on Tuesday during plenary, granting Paternity Leave for men in public and civil service.

The motion was sponsored by Honorable Mathias Nwankwo, member representing Umunneochi State Constituency who’s also the Majority Leader of the house.

Speaking during the plenary, Hon. Nwankwo emphasized the important roles the presence of the man will play in the life of the newborn and the wife.

“Newborns rely strongly and heavily on bonds with parents who influence their emotional, social, environmental, and bonding growth development.

“Fathers play great roles in the child’s emotional, social, environmental, and cognitive growth and development.

“The introduction of paternity leave in other states for the male officers would allow them to provide the most needed support to their wives who came out of labor,” he said.

Furthermore, Nwankwo recalled that the federal government had earlier in a circular issued on 25th November 2022, through the head of service of the federation approved 14 working days paternity leave in the public service of the federation.

Emphasizing that the federal government and some states like Enugu, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos have all implemented paternity leave policies, he prayed for Abia State to also do so.

Some of the members supported the motion, while some did not, resulting in a heated debate in the house.

The motion was supported by Mr. Lewis Chinemerem, member representing Ugwunagbo state constituency.

“This leave should be awarded to every male worker as long as there is evidence to prove that your wife has put to bed, not your girlfriend.

“I stand to agree with the sponsor of this motion that paternity leave should also be accorded to male workers just as it should be accorded to female workers,” Lewis said.

Also speaking, Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi, member representing Bende South State Constituency, “I supported the motion because maternity leave is a privilege that has already been afforded to those workers that are in the federal civil service.

“I also believe if the workers in the federal civil service are enjoying this privilege, those of them in the state service should also enjoy this privilege,” he said.

Six persons voted against the motion while eight persons voted in support. The speaker referred the resolution to the governor to take final decision.

Abia Assembly Approves Paternity Leave For Men is first published on The Whistler Newspaper