A bill seeking to grant five-month leave for female and 30 days for male workers who lose their spouses has scaled second reading at the House of Representatives.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Rep. Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), at plenary on Tuesday.
Presenting the bill, Abdullahi said the bill was to place Nigeria among the top countries in the world in terms of workers’ welfare, as the law exists in many countries.
with our culture in view, giving a widower 30 days and a widow five months of widowhood leave for the death of a spouse may be reasonable -Rep SAIdu Abdullahi
“This crucial piece of legislation aims to address the pressing issue of supporting individuals who have lost their spouses, helping them navigate the challenging period of widowhood,” he said.
He said findings show that in Nigeria, public sector organisations grant up to 14 days’ leave for workers who lose their spouses.
“Therefore, one may say the 14 days prescribed by Public Sector Rules is sufficient; but when one looks at the prevalent cultural and religious practices in Nigeria, it seems inadequate.
“It is always necessary that an organisation looks at the cultural context, as the way people mourn is deeply rooted in culture.
“In Eastern Nigeria, for instance, burial usually takes place after a few weeks or months and the mourning period for a widow in modern times is three months, even though traditionally, it is up to a year.
“In Islam, while mourning is usually three days, the waiting period for a widow is up to four months.
“During this period, the bereaved spouse receives visitors for at least a month.
“Therefore, with our culture in view, giving a widower 30 days and a widow five months of widowhood leave for the death of a spouse may be reasonable.”
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas referred the bill to the House Committee on Public Sector Reforms for further legislative actions. (NAN)
