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Tag: NASoW

  • Stakeholders decry delay in constituting social work regulatory council

    Stakeholders decry delay in constituting social work regulatory council

    Stakeholders in Nigeria’s social work profession have raised alarm over the continued absence of a regulatory council, warning that it is hindering the development and proper coordination of the profession nationwide.

    This concern was contained in a communique issued at the end of a strategic meeting convened in Abuja by the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) in collaboration with affiliated bodies such as the Association of Social Work Educators in Nigeria (ASWEN), the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), and the Institute of Social Work in Nigeria (ISOWN).

    The meeting focused on key challenges confronting social work practice in the country, particularly the need to operationalize the Nigerian Council for Social Work as provided in the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act, 2022.

    Among those in attendance were Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, President of NASoW; Mrs. Esther Nasara, General Secretary of NASoW; Professor Alamveabee Idyorough, President of ASWEN; Professor James Ayangunna, National Secretary of ASWEN; Mr. Kayode Ogedengbe, National President of AMSWON; and Mr. Daniel Ellu, National General Secretary of AMSWON.

    Although the Act establishing the council was signed into law in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, stakeholders lamented that the body is yet to be constituted or inaugurated, leaving a critical regulatory gap in the profession.

    In the communique made available to journalists on Wednesday, the stakeholders commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s welfare initiatives aimed at supporting Nigeria’s vulnerable populations.

    However, they expressed deep concern that the delay in implementing the Act has stalled the regulation, standardization, and growth of the social work profession in the country.

    “After extensive deliberations and professional engagement, the following resolutions were reached and unanimously adopted:

    “Urgent Need for Council regularization. The meeting expressed deep concern over the non-regularization of the Nigerian Council for Social Work, since being ascented to, the Social Work (Establishment) Act in 2022. This delay has created a vacuum in the regulation and coordination of professional social work practice across the country.

    “Collective Appeal to the Federal Government. The leadership of NASoW, ASWEN, and AMSWON, called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to urgently make operational, the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Act, to ensure that the regulatory framework envisioned by the law is operationalized.

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    “Impact of Non-operation. The absence of the Council undermines the growth, recognition, and regulation of social work practice in Nigeria. It is affecting the standardization of education as well as training, licensing of practitioners, and monitoring of ethical practices across various sectors including health, education, justice, and humanitarian services.

    “Commitment to Collaboration and Advocacy. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the professional bodies to working collaboratively in promoting the social work profession in Nigeria. It resolved to intensify advocacy and constructive engagement with relevant government authorities until the Council is formally operational.

    “Call to Action. All stakeholders including policy makers, the media, and the general public are called upon to support this cause which seeks to enhance the delivery of essential social services, protect the vulnerable, and promote national development through professional social work practice. 

    “This communique is issued in the spirit of unity, professionalism, and commitment to national service by the leadership of the undersigned bodies”. 

  • NASoW urges Tinubu to constitute, inaugurate council for social work to curb quackery

    NASoW urges Tinubu to constitute, inaugurate council for social work to curb quackery

    The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella body for all social workers in the country, has urged President Bola Tinubu to establish and inaugurate the Nigerian Council for Social Work (NCSW) to combat quackery in the profession.

    The appeal was made through a communique issued at the end of NASoW’s National Council Meeting held in Jos, Plateau State, from July 14th to 17th, 2024.

    The communique, released to journalists on Sunday, July 21, was prepared by Alhaji Jamilu Musa (Chairman, Kano), Ms. Lamilisa Olubumi (Secretary, Lagos), Comrade Abdalla Usman (Member, Niger), and Comrade Ali Gambo (Member, Yobe).

    The Nigerian Council for Social Work [Establishment] Act 2022, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2022, mandates the creation of the NCSW to regulate the social work profession in the country.

    NASoW noted that the council, intended to be housed in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has not yet been constituted.

    The association also pointed out that plans to establish the council were underway before the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    It further appealed to President Tinubu to expedite the constitution and inauguration of the council to improve service delivery in the profession and to combat quackery.

    They expressed sympathy for the families of victims and the Plateau state government following the tragic building collapse at Saints Academy School, Jos.

    The association appreciated the swift interventions by the government, non-governmental organizations, and public-spirited individuals to assist the affected victims.

    During the NEC meeting, the association called for the integration of qualified social workers in correctional centres and social work outfits to ensure professionalism in humanitarian activities across the nation.

    They also urged for increased funding for educational institutions and encouraged the establishment of social work units in tertiary, secondary, and primary schools to address social issues within the educational system.

    NASoW highlighted the increased hardship faced by citizens due to the removal of fuel subsidies and naira devaluation and urged the government to engage social workers in providing social services.

    The association emphasised the need for the government to involve professional social workers in its social investment programs to enhance the quality of service delivery.

    The association appealed to the Government to as a matter of policy engage professional social workers in its social investment programs to enhance quality service.

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    “The national council requests the federal government to constitute and inaugurate members of the Nigerian Council for Social Work to ensure regulation of activities of Social workers in the country in line with global best practices.

    “We are using this medium to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address this issue. We are appealing to him to constitute and inaugurate the Nigerian Council for Social Work as stated in the Nigerian Council for Social Work [Establishment] Act 2022.

    “The Act states that there will be a council to regulate Social Work practice and the practitioners. We appeal to the President to help us formally constitute and inaugurate the council. This will help to address the issue of quackery. It will help us to put social work in the place it deserves in the country.

    “The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was working hard to constitute the council until the minister was suspended. So, we want the President to revisit the matter.

    “Members of the Council sympathised with families of victims and Plateau State Government over the tragic incident that occurred at Saints Academy School, Jos following the school building collapse. The Council appreciated the swift interventions done by the government, non-governmental organizations, and public-spirited individuals to render assistance to affected victims of the incident.

    “The council in a session called for the Integration of qualified social workers in correctional centres and professional social work outfits to ensure injection of professionalism in humanitarian activities across the nation. The council called for increased funding for Educational Institutions as well as encourage the establishment of social work units in tertiary, secondary, and primary institutions of learning to tackle social ills in our schools.

    “The council urged the government to look at the increased hardship being faced by the citizenry orchestrated by the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation and engage social workers in rendering social services. The Council equally informed the government to as a matter of policy engage professional social workers in its social investment programs.

    “The council reiterates the position of NASoW as the umbrella body for all professional social workers in Nigeria.

    “The council expressed its indebtedness to the state government for supporting the hosting of its council meetings in Jos and called for more collaborative engagements with the State Social workers for optimal humanitarian services to victims of the various crises in the state.”

  • Inauguration of Social Work Council lacks merit- NASoW

    Inauguration of Social Work Council lacks merit- NASoW

    The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), an umbrella body of all professional social workers in the country, has declared that inauguration of Nigeria Council for Social Work lacks procedural merit. 

    The association noted the inauguration of the council without contributions of the association is in contrary to the Act. 

    A statement by NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo alleged the Nigeria Council for Social Work [Establishment] Act 2022 which has been gazetted was signed by former President, Muhammadu Buhari in December 2022. 

    The Nation gathered that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had invited some individuals for the inauguration of the pioneer Nigeria Council for Social Work today (Friday). 

    Mustapha described the step taken by the ministry of Women Affairs as an aberration to the act, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter. 

    He argued that the Act recognised NASoW as the umbrella body for the profession and all things to be done must be in tandem with the association’s contributions. 

    He said: “The inauguration of the council did not follow due process. It lacked procedural merit. The act recognised NASoW as a major stakeholder. As a major stakeholder, NASoW needs to be contacted and officially invited before the inauguration is done.

    “We were not contacted. NASoW also viewed with dismay that the timing of the inauguration is wrong. The inauguration is done at a time when Social Workers in Nigeria are hosting the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Africa Region conference in Lagos.

    “The inauguration by the Ministry of Women Affairs is taking place at a time when the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs is planning to constitute the council. The federal ministry of humanitarian affairs has sent an official letter to NASoW and requested us to make dominations for the council which has been done. So, we are surprised that the federal ministry of women affairs is inaugurating another Council today. We cannot have two councils for Social Work and the two ministries should not work at cross purposes.

    “NASoW as a major stakeholder should have two representatives in the council, but to our own surprise, NASoW was not requested to make nominations nor contacted or invited. This is an aberration to the provisions of the act. We call on the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to call the Minister of Women Affairs to order and decide where the council will be domiciled to avoid all these unnecessary conflict of interest and embarrassment among the various federal ministries in the country.

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    “Another important thing is that the appointment of the Chairman of the board must be approved by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are not aware if this has been done. We hereby call on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the matter.”

    “The president of the association hereby registered his displeasure on the way the Federal ministry of Women is Affairs is handling the constitution and inauguration of the council of Social work in Nigeria. Section 30 of the act recognises the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) as the umbrella body of Social work organisations in Nigeria.”

    “I  wish to call the attention of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and commander- in – Chief of Armed Forces to intervene and put a round peg in a round hole by addressing which of the three ministries will the new board domiciled either the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the ministry of Women Affairs or ministry of health and social welfare.”