Increase Paid Maternity Leave for Nursing mothers to Six Months - CS-SUNN

By Ngozi Cyril Dibia


Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) held a one day media roundtable on to call for the review of the current Civil Service Rules by increasing paid maternity leave from the current four months to six months. INCREASED INVESTMENT IN NUTRITION TO SCALE UP QUALITY NUTRITION SERVICES IN CROSS RIVER STATE.  The event which held at Dannic Hotel on Tuesday the 5th of December 2023 had in attendance; the Board of Trustee  (BOT) Chairperson of CS-SUNN, Dr Mbang Kufre-Ada; a Consultant with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, the Special Adviser on Budget, Cross River State; Mr Otu, Ita Otu, the state Coordinator, Mrs Nkem Eying Ubana, Mr Kingsley Eyibio; the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, State Planning Commission, Cross River State, Dr. Winifred Ifila, State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Cross River State, key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA), Private and Public Stakeholders and Media representatives across the state.



CS-SUNN is a non-profit organisation which was set up in November 2013 at Illorin, Kwara State, Nigeria and formally inaugurated on the 7th of August 2014 with the sole objective of transforming Nigeria into a country where every citizen has food and is nutrition secured. The CS-SUNN presently has presence in 24 states of the Federation.


Dr Mbang Kufre-Ada while delivering her speech,  emphasised on the National Multi-Sectoral Planning Action For Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) declaration of reducing by 50% the proportion of people who suffer hunger and the need to increase exclusive breastfeeding rate to 65% by 2025. She called on the media and all stakeholders; to come together to raise the necessary awareness so as to ensure that Nigeria meets this target.



Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Mr Otu Ita Otu, said that the present administration was not resting on its oars to ensure that residents of Cross River State enjoy the benefit of adequate food supply, as well as also ensuring that  their nutritional needs are met.  He gave the assurance that Nutrition has been adequately provided for in the 2024 Budget of the government.



Mr Oguntade Isaac Dare of CS-SUNN Abuja gave a background on  what CS-SUNN is all about, its objectives, goals and its achievement thus far in Nigeria. He told participants that the main objectives of CS-SUNN is to ensure that infants from the first 1000 days of their lives are breastfed (Including Six months exclusive breastfeeding) and that the mothers have access to the right nutritional diet to ensure babies receive the right quality and quantity of nutrients from their mothers. In other to make sure this is achieved they are partnering with key stakeholders like UNICEF, other non governmental organisations, and the government to ensure that everyone has a right to food and good nutrition. In addition, CS-SUNN is also advocating for paid maternity leave of 6 months for all working nursing mothers.



Highlights of the event was the presentation of a press statement by the Cross River State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Mrs. Nkem Eyong Ubana. 


Highlights of the Press Release.


Malnutrition and Nutrition have been one of the leading causes of deaths in Nigeria.

Nigeria's robust policies in the food and nutrition sector have witnessed huge setbacks as a result of inadequate funding especially as it relates to Cross River State; where the approved budget for food and Nutrition has not been released in the past Eight years.

Clarion call on the media to help in raising awareness for increased investment in Nutrition as well as the advocacy for six months paid maternity leave for new mothers.

To ensure timely release and effective utilisation of allocated funds for Nutrition in  Cross River State.

Support of policy implementation through the development of low cost nutritious food. 

Advocacy for the implementation of maternal and child nutrition intervention and the promotion of sustainable community health education on nutrition by CSOs and NGOs.










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