CS-SUNN Seeks Six-Month Maternity Leave, N9bn Nutrition Fund in Adamawa
By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola
The Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has urged the Adamawa State Government to approve a six-month paid maternity leave for mothers and commit N9 billion as counterpart funding to combat child malnutrition in the state.
The call was made on Monday by the Chairman of the CS-SUNN Steering Committee in Adamawa, Sodangi Adams Chindo, in a press statement titled “Investing in Nutrition Now.”
Chindo revealed that over 7,000 children in Adamawa are in urgent need of nutrition intervention, stressing that malnutrition continues to pose a serious threat to child survival, growth and development.
He explained that through counterpart funding arrangements, the state could access double the value of its investment, thereby reducing the total financial requirement from N18 billion to N9 billion.
“The government should maximise the counterpart funding opportunities of getting double the value of investments made on child nutrition. In this regard, Adamawa State Government will need to invest only N9 billion to address child malnutrition,” he stated.
Chindo cited global evidence showing that timely investment in maternal and child nutrition—particularly within the first 1,000 days of life—yields significant returns in improved health outcomes, cognitive development and long-term economic productivity.
He added that CS-SUNN, with support from UNICEF, is currently implementing a programme aimed at scaling up quality nutrition services in Adamawa.
The initiative supports the implementation of the Adamawa State Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (ASMPFAN).
The CS-SUNN chairman called for the full operationalisation of ASMPFAN, stronger monitoring mechanisms and better coordination across all tiers of government to ensure effective service delivery.
He also appealed to the state government to extend paid maternity leave from the current three months to six months to promote exclusive breastfeeding and enhance child survival. According to him, four northeastern states—Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe—have already adopted the six-month maternity leave policy.
Also speaking, the Adamawa State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Ibrahim Bellow, said extending maternity leave would allow mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies and resume work healthier and more productive.
Bellow urged relevant authorities to increase budgetary allocations for child nutrition and ensure adequate provision for Child Nutrition Fund counterpart financing in the 2026 state budget.
Chindo further called on the media to prioritise evidence-based reporting on nutrition issues and hold public officials accountable for their budgetary commitments and measurable results.
He encouraged the private sector to invest in food fortification, production of affordable nutritious foods and adoption of breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies.
He commended the state government, development partners, media organisations and civil society groups for their continued support, noting that sustained investment in nutrition would save lives and strengthen the economic future of Adamawa State.
