Beginning from 25 November, 2022, serving male officers working with the Federal Government, whose spouse delivers a baby, will be entitled to a 14-working-day paternity leave.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this disclosure on Monday through a circular dated 25 November, 2022, with ref no:HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/RR/650309/3, which was sighted by Pharmanewsonline.
The approval came after the proposal to grant paternity leave to workers was gazetted by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
The circular titled : “Computation of Leave Based on Working Days and Approval of Paternity Leave in the Public Service”, was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, serving ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Clerk to the National Assembly and Governor of CBN among others.
According to Yemi-Esan:” Once in 2 years, government has also approved Paternity Leave for serving male officers whose spouse delivers a baby. The period of the leave shall be fourteen working days. The leave shall not be more than once in two years, and for a maximum of four children.
“Where the family of a male officer adopts a child under four months old, the officer will similarly enjoy Paternity Leave for a period of fourteen working days”.
Pharmanewsonline reports that the LAGOS Government, during the tenure of Governor Babatunde Fashola, in 2014, approved 10 days paternity leave for male civil servant in the state, whose wife delivers a new baby.
The governor explained that the measure was to afford male workers the opportunity of attending to developmental needs of the child.
Yemi- Esan further hinted on the new policy, saying it was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition, that the computation of all leave shall be based on 14 working days.
The circular stated that period of the leave shall be 14 working days and shall not be more than once in two years, and a for maximum of four children.
She said that request for such leave shall be accompanied by the Expected Date of Delivery’s (EDD) report of the officer’s wife or evidence of approval of the adoption of the child by the relevant government bodies.
