Group Charges FG to Implement Policies for Better Work-Family Integration

Esther Oluku 

Social services organisation, ADABA Initiatives, has called on the federal government to enforce policies and practices which make for better work-family cohesion.

This was part of the deliberations reached at the Breakfast Dialogue hosted by ADABA Initiatives in commemoration of the International Day of Families which held in Lagos, recently with the theme: ‘Utilising  Policy Towards Productive Employment and Decent Work for All Families – Lessons From the Private Sector.’

Principal Consultant, ADABA Initiatives, Mrs. Fabia Ogunmekan, noted that as families are the core of every nation, practices which enable people maintain a healthy integration of their professional roles while supporting healthy family life, should be implemented.

She added also that collaboration between the public and private sector is critical to building more robust and progressive work-family systems across the country.

“This year’s International Day of Families, themed “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development,” reminds us of the shared responsibility we all have to shape systems that support families to thrive. 

“The government has a critical role to play in setting the pace and standard and can lead by example through

Implementing family-oriented policies such as paid parental leave, flexible work options and providing investment in care infrastructure such as community-based childcare centres or creches.

“Government can also encourage public-private partnerships to ensure workplace policies reflect the evolving realities of family life and keep pace with demographic changes, acknowledging intergenerational dynamics, diverse family structures, and the need for inclusive protections,” she said.

Speaking during the plenary, Founder, The Nanny Academy, Mrs Amara Agim, noted that while COVID has changed the dynamics of work, modern family require care systems which allows professionals to grow in their career while still servicing the emotional and psychological needs of their families.

As such, Agim stated the need for public and private to collaborate towards making critical investments in the care industry, an emerging sector in Nigeria.

On her part, Founder, The Executive Parent Ally (TEPA), Adefolashade Fadeyi, emphasized the key role parenting education will play in national leadership development. She said that as with professional development, “parental education must become part of our leadership development. If we are exposing our professionals to continuous trainings and emotional intelligence, we have to expose them to parenting education.”

Meanwhile, the Project Manager, ADABA Initiatives, Oluwatoyin Oladunjoye, highlighted that supporting working families through implementation of family friendly policies will positively impact mental well-being outcomes, encourage greater workforce participation, drive productivity, and advances national development.