President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to assent to the Nigeria Council for Social Work Regulatory Bill which has already been passed by the National Assembly. Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASOW), the umbrella body of all Social Workers across the federation, appealed in a communiqué issued at the end of its 33rd Annual General Meeting/International Conference themed ‘Feasibility and Visibility of Social Work Practice in West Africa Sub Region’ held in Abuja.
In the communiqué signed by NASOW National President, Kolawole Olawale and National General Secretary, Jamilu Musa, NASOW observed that the prospect of Social Work is very bright in West Africa Sub-Region but more efforts should be put in place to create more awareness about the profession by all stakeholders including the practitioners, institutions, development agencies and the government.
The association noted that Social Workers “are eagerly waiting for Mr President to assent to the bill and made a passionate appeal to use his good office to assent to the Nigeria Council for Social Work Regulatory Bill when it is transmitted to the presidency by the National Assembly.
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NASOW also noted that up till now, the involvement of Social Workers in schools, hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centres is still low, calling on relevant agencies to ensure they involve social workers in the needed areas.
According to the communiqué, the conference observed that the prospect of Social Work is very bright in West Africa sub-region but more efforts should be put in place to create more awareness of the profession by all stakeholders including the practitioners, institutions, development agencies and the government.
“The involvement of Social Workers in Schools, Hospitals, Prisons, Rehabilitation centres is still low and that baby factory, violent crimes and other criminal behaviours are daily on the increase due to unfavourable socio-economic situation in the country.
“The conference also observed that many people are engaged to work as Social Workers but are yet to have an academic background in Social Work.
“Condemned states that still owe salaries of their workers for months which have led to the loss of many lives and unnecessary hardship to the workers and their families.
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“Observed increase in the rates of suicide in Nigeria which is a result of hard economic condition currently facing the country”.
The association while commending the President in his fight against corruption then
added we appreciated the courage and unprecedented political will demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari to kill corruption before corruption kills us as a nation.
The association, however “commended the National Assembly, for the passage of the bill, (Nigerian Council for Social Work) as it is our collective belief that assenting to this bill by President Buhari will go a long way in assisting the government meet the needs and yearning of Nigerians as relating to issues of provision of welfare to the citizens as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended”.
NASW also commended the National Universities Commission (NUC), for the harmonization of the social work curriculum and providing a benchmark for undergraduates and postgraduates social work programs in the country.
“Commended the National Universities Commission (NUC) for harmonisation of Social Work curriculum and providing the benchmark for undergraduates and postgraduates social work programmes in Nigeria. The conference thanked the CDC, THIS-N among others for their supports.
“Urged the Federal Government to facilitate the accreditation of Federal School of Social Work, Emene, Enugu State and upgrade it to a degree-awarding institution.”
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
