The Chartered Institute of Social Workers of Nigeria has urged Nigerians to report cases of children under 15 being used as househelps.
National President of the Institute, Prof Oluwayemisi Obashoro, said persons under this age are not qualified to work.
She added that househelps are not professional social workers.
Obashoro, who said this while addressing reporters in Abuja, said the Institute works with the standard regulation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which puts the required age for one to be old enough to work as 15 in some places and 18 years in others.
She said the institute will embark on a sensitisation campaign and also seek the collaboration of Nigerians on reporting cases of underage housemaids.
She spoke on the heels of the assent given to the bill for the regulation and control of social works profession in Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“In Nigeria today, there are particularly challenges relating to social development which have hindered national growth. In response to these challenges, the Nigerian government established the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to contain the very many problems,” she said.
The entrance of this Chartered Institute will help galvanise professionals and control the professional practice.
“It is worthy of note at a time like this that, there is need for the institutionalization of strategic government partners to help the understanding of our economic realities, new strategies and goals, improve existing capabilities and draw up action plans to help address social concerns.
Read Also: Zainab Duke-Abiola and the orderly’s rights
“Considering the critical shortage of social workers in our nation’s schools, where professionals are needed to help young people deal with complex issues such as trauma, poverty, increasing addiction crises, the Institutes new status is a great stride in the right direction.
“The Institute will embark on proper registration of existing practitioners into appropriate categories, train and retrain both existing and new members to meet up with the basic required practice standard as applicable worldwide.
“Efforts will be made to position social workers in line with contemporary professions in Nigeria and set new agenda that is commensurate with international best practice. Membership will be open to Social Workers at the Officers level, Assistant level and Auxiliary level as well. Registration will be made available to qualified persons on all social work desks across MDAs, Civil Societies and International Development Agencies.
“In a few months from today, precisely November, The Institute will hold her Annual International Conference which will feature the participation of delegates from different countries and all states in Nigeria. The gathering will draw together leading professionals and stakeholders who will review and draw up the content for holistic action plan that will help address social issues in Nigeria and help reposition the practice to meet standard globally accepted professionalism. It is therefore on this note, that we call on every expert to join the work force and make conscious efforts to be part of history” she said