A mother with her newborn twins at the maternity-labor ward in the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Nigeria. Photo: CNN

The Niger State House of Assembly has proposed a law that will provide six months maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state.

The bill, which is sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Afiniki Dauda, aimed at allowing women to get the required rest after childbirth and to enhance the health of the nursing mother and her child.

Dauda made the announcement during a training session on etiquette, protocol, security, and empowerment for female political office holders in Minna, the state capital.

The training session was organized by the wife of the governor of Niger State, Fatima Bago.

Dauda, in her remarks, said the six-month maternity leave would enable working-class nursing mothers to fully regain their energy and bond sufficiently with their children during the period.

Also speaking, Bago asked the women to leave a modest lifestyle devoid of extravagant character.