A bill advocating for an extended bereavement leave period of one and five months for men and women who have lost their spouses respectively has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Saidu Abdullahi, representing Bida/Katcha/Gbako Federal Constituency, Niger State, the bill aims to provide widows and widowers adequate time to mourn their partners and recover from the emotional trauma.
During the debate on the bill’s general principles at Tuesday’s plenary, Abdullahi highlighted the challenges faced by individuals who have lost their spouses in Nigeria, emphasizing the complexities of single parenting.
“The bill seeks to address the urgent need to support individuals coping with the loss of their spouses and assist them through the challenging period of widowhood,” he stated.
The proposed legislation consists of five clauses. The first clause outlines the duration of leave granted to widows and widowers, with full payment entitlement.
The second clause defines the eligibility criteria for the leave, while the third clause specifies the penalties for violating the proposed law.
Part four provides interpretations for the terms “widow” and “widower”.
Abdullahi pointed out that widowhood legislation has been enacted in various countries worldwide, citing examples such as 15 days of paid leave for widows in India and 60 days in the Philippines.
He noted the absence of explicit provisions for widowhood leave in the Nigerian Labour Act (2004) and highlighted the disparity in bereavement leave practices across public sector organizations in Nigeria.
While acknowledging that some organizations offer bereavement leave of up to 14 days, Abdullahi argued that this duration might be inadequate considering Nigeria’s cultural and religious practices.
He emphasized the importance of considering cultural context, citing examples of mourning practices in eastern Nigeria and Islamic traditions.
“In view of our culture, granting widowers 30 days and widows five months of widowhood leave for the loss of a spouse may be reasonable,” Abdullahi concluded.
