Staff To Go On Two Maternity Leave In Less Than 18 Months

Dear Seniors,
I have a situation in my Organization and I need expert advice on it. My company has policy that a female staff who has worked for at least six months is entitled to maternity leave. But it does not say anything about the frequency. I have a staff who went on maternity leave when she was almost six months in the employment of the company. She went on 23rd of April 2012.
This staff has confidentially reported to HR that she is pregnant to be due in August 2013.
Please I need your urgent advice on what HR can suggest to management to do on this matter as we do not have any policy that says she cannot be given maternity leave.
Your urgent advice needed please.
Thank you.
Eriisinmi,
Lagos Nigeria

Hello Eriisinmi,
What do the National Laws in Nigeria--relating to Employee Maternity Benefits--say?
Also, another way of looking @ the situation would be to check if she has 6 months continuous service [as per your company policy] before the current maternity leave application [meaning AFTER she rejoined after availing the earlier Leave]. If she has served for 6 months, maybe you can grant her ML the second time.
Suggest wait for other members too to give their views/suggestions.
Rgds,
TS

I agree to TS.. it would be appropriate to check the national law on Maternity Benefit and also calculate if she has worked continuous 180 days (6 months) since she has joined.
Meanwhile sharing my company's internal policy :
• Maternity leave can be used a maximum of two (2) occasions during an associate’s tenure with the Company. All intervening holidays and weekends falling during this period of maternity leave are counted.
- Gia

Dear Eriisinmi,
According ot the Nigerian Maternity Act, a women permitted to take maternity leave for 12 weeks intoto; with half pay for six weeks before and six weeks after delivery. In regulation to the act (government and private sectors, Nigeria) provide 84 days maternity leave including the public holidays and weekends.
However to the situation pertained to a women employee going on maternity leave for the second time requires to qualify a 26 consecutive weeks of service. Besides, you check the gap to qualify the maternity benefit only for the calculated pay earned as per the statutory benefit.