The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a 14-day paternity leave for federal civil servants whose spouse delivers a baby.
As contained in a circular – referenced HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/RR/650309/3 – shared on Monday by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, said the leave took effect on 25th November, 2022.
The circular titled, ‘Computation of Leave Based on Working Days and Approval of Paternity Leave in the Public Service’, said that the computation of the leave shall be based on working days following the provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition.
According to the Civil Service boss, “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 a for 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,” she said.
Yemi-Esan stressed that the paternity leave was important to help the newly-born or adopted baby properly bond with the father in the early period.
She maintained that requests 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.
