NGZamfara State in Nigeria has approved six months of maternity leave for female civil servants as part of initiatives to promote exclusive breastfeeding and enhance maternal and child health. The decision was announced by the State Head of Service, Yakubu Haidara, who cited Governor Dauda Lawal's commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and combating child malnutrition. The policy aims to provide essential recovery time for mothers, prevent postpartum depression, and facilitate exclusive breastfeeding. The move follows advocacy efforts by the Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) group, which also called for increased funding for nutrition programs and improved budget management. The state government has already allocated N500 million for nutrition activities and expressed confidence in sustaining or increasing funding this year.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the policy decision as a government initiative supported by both state officials and civil society advocates. It emphasizes the health benefits of extended maternity leave without overtly praising or criticizing either side. While the issue of maternal health and child nutrition
