Reps Seek Five-Month Leave For Widows

A bill seeking to grant five-month leave to persons who lose their spouse has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Honourable Saidu Abdullahi, the bill seeks to enable the widow or widower mourn the deceased spouse and make immediate arrangements for the challenges ahead.

Honourable Saidu argues that there is a need for consideration of the bill on cultural and religious grounds.

Abdullahi said the bill is designed to place Nigeria among the top countries in the world in terms of workers welfare as the law exist in many countries.

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According to him, research findings had shown that in Nigeria, organisations in the public sector grant up to 14 days leave for workers who lost their spouses for the burials.

However, he said that 14 days is inadequate when one looks at the prevalent cultural and religious practice in Nigeria.

The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, in his ruling, referred the bill to the House Committee on Public Sector Reforms for further legislative actions.