The Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) has called on governors and state legislators to implement the six-month pay maternity leave policy in the 36 states.

The forum made the call on Thursday in a communique issued at the end of its annual retreat held at Exco Chamber’s Centenary City in Abakaliki.

The forum’s chairperson, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the wife of the Kwara governor, said implementing the policy will improve maternity and child welfare in the country.

“The forum pledged to vigorously advocate for adopting six months of paid maternity leave, engaging executive governors and state legislators to promote this policy across all states for improved maternity and child welfare,” she said.

She noted that the forum endorsed the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) Initiative to protect girls’ health.

Mrs Abdulrazaq said the forum is committed to sustaining advocacy for the HPV vaccine uptake to protect their health.

“The next line of action is a selective sensitisation of wives of local government chairmen on HPV vaccine and cancer awareness,” Mrs “Abdulrazaq said.

Earlier, the wife of Ebonyi governor, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, who hosted the meeting, expressed satisfaction over the visit.

Twenty-three wives of state governors attended the meeting.

The meeting observed a one-minute silence in honour of their departed colleague, the wife of the Akwa Ibom governor, Patience Eno, who died on September 26.

(NAN)