FG begins paternity leave implementation for civil servants

The Federal Government says it has commenced the implementation of approved 14 working-day paternity leave for federal civil servants with effect from November 25

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said this on Monday in a November 25 circular with ref no: HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/RR/650309/3.

The circular titled ‘Computation of Leave Based on Working Days and Approval of Paternity Leave in the Public Service’ said that this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition, that the computation of all leave would be based on working days.

She said the paternity leave would apply for “serving male officers whose spouse delivers a baby”, adding that it would 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 14 working days,” Yemi-Esan said.

She said that the request for such leave should 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.

She also said that the effective date of the circular was November 25, 2022.

The Federal Executive Council in September this year approved a 14-day paternity leave for men in the federal civil service, to make men properly bond with their newborn baby or adopted one.

She said the bonding was important to help the newly-born or adopted baby properly bond with the father in the early period.

“So, that is what has been approved for men so that the men and their babies also can bond well together. It’s important because we want the young children and the youth really to bond properly with their fathers, just as they bond well with their mothers.”