The Kwara State government has officially approved a six-month fully paid maternity leave for all eligible female civil servants across the state. The directive was confirmed in a circular dated August 1, 2025, issued by the Office of the Head of Service and conveyed to government departments, commissions, and agencies. The move aims to better support nursing mothers in the state workforce.
Signed by the Head of Establishment and Pension, the circular affirmed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq authorized the policy extension. This development builds on a previous measure from August 2023, when the state increased maternity leave from three to six months during a World Breastfeeding Week event in Ilorin.
At that event, the governor’s wife, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, had praised the extension, stating that it would help mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding and support their rights to breastfeed anytime, anywhere. She also commended the governor for establishing crèches in government ministries to make it easier for working mothers to care for their children on the job.
According to her, the longer leave period would significantly improve the health of babies while empowering women in the workplace. She noted that such efforts align with global health recommendations and help create a more inclusive, family-friendly work environment for civil servants.
The Nigerian Labour Act allows for at least three months of maternity leave, with half-pay provisions, but the Kwara policy now sets a new standard by offering six months at full pay. Health experts and women’s rights advocates have applauded the policy, calling it a progressive step toward better maternal and child health outcomes.