Social Workers across the country under the umbrella of Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), and other affiliate bodies of the association have expressed worry over the delay in the passage of the Council of Social Work Bill pending at the Senate.
They however urged members of the red chamber to expedite work in ensuring speedy passage of the bill aimed at regulating Social Work practice and profession in the country.
Speaking while lamenting the continuous delay of the bill at the Senate in an interview with DAILY POST on Thursday, NASoW Deputy National President, Comrade Olutimi Jacob appealed to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and other members of the house in the interest of fairness and justice ensure speedy passage of the bill which he said will address many social problems in the country.
Olutimi Jacob- NASoW Deputy National President
Jacob said the bill which was raised at the Senate by the then Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, passed through the first reading at the Senate but still awaiting further legislative action.
“The Social Work regulatory bill titled ‘National Council for Social Work’ was passed by the House of Representatives in 2016 and transmitted to the Senate, thereafter passed through the first reading at the Senate in October, 2016. Presently the bill is awaiting further legislative process at the Senate.
“A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL WORK TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK IN NIGERIA AND FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS is still pending at the Senate, we appeal to them to pass it on time.
Jamal Ali Ahmed – NASWE PRO
“NASS should know that the establishment of the council will ensure that those taken care of the most vulnerable groups (the women, children, PLWDs, youth, destitutes, elderly, widows,) the family, drug addict, people in conflicts with the law, IDPs, Refugees etc will be adequately protected. They will have law guiding their conduct, illegal sales of babies (baby factory) will be put under control.
“Professionalization will bring sanity to the society, the future of our children will be secured because there behavioural modification is the duty of social workers”.
Jacob who works as a Social Worker with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Abujaalso appealed to the practitioners and other stakeholders to prevail on those in positions of authority so that the opportunity will not elude the association.
Abubakar Alhasan Bichi – AMSWON President
“Social Workers, social work organisations, institutions and partners need to embark on robust sensitisation, campaigns, advocacy, lobbying, using the media and organising programs on the bill to ensure its speedy.
“The need to lobby government departments and agencies in charge of social development and the presidency is imperative for presidential ascent”.
Jacob said there is a need for members of the association to engage the governments at all levels to prioritize people-friendly policies and programs.
“Social workers need to play pivotal roles in this present administration, such as constantly engaging the government atall level to ensuring issues of social work and humanitarian activities are implemented in accordance with social development policy of 1989.
“Also social workers should be advise to participate in governance. Social Workers need to mobilise the community to be part of decision making”.
When passed, the bill according to him will give the professionals the opportunity to compete with their peers in the field of law, medicine and engineering.
“If the bill becomes operational the profession will be recognise like other reputable professions ,like medicine, law, engineering etc.
“The council will checkmate the activities of untrained people engaging in social work activities.
“Only certified social workers will be employed in all sectors to work as social workers.
“Social Worker will be able to monitor the training institutions, and regulate the practice.
“Social Workers will be able to engage in private practice”.
While commending the UNICEF and Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for supporting the association, Jacob maintained that all efforts must be in place to address the pending bill quickly.
“To support advocacy and awareness on the bill and Social Work in Nigeria, UNICEF supplied thousands of ICT materials, such as T- Shirts, Face caps, Stickers, flyers on simplified version and importance of the bill with social work inscriptions.
“NASOW has informed the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for joint symbolic presentation of these materials with UNICEF Office. The Federal Ministry and UNICEF in collaboration with NASOW will be organizing programs to support the passage of the bill”.
While speaking, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Association of Social Work Educators (NASWE), Mr. Jamal Ali Ahmed called on the Senate to “Please as a matter of urgency pass and approve the Social Work Bill”.
The Senior Lecturer at Department of Social Development, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse said “This will enable the Social Workers perform their duties diligently. They will use their knowledge & skills in helping people as well as the vulnerable.
“I am appealing to Mr President to please ascent the Bill as soon as possible when it is submitted to him.
“Stakeholders have the responsibility in disseminating information in order to understand the relevance of Social Workers in tackling societal problems especially the current problem of internally displayed persons (IDPs).
“The Bill will checkmate quacks into the profession and give room to the professionals in giving good service delivery.
“Social Workers have greater roles to play in the present government especially in advocating for social justice,corrupt practices, and poverty alleviation”.
While contributing, National President, Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), Abubakar Alhasan Bichi said lack of enabling law is making it difficult to involve Social Workers in several areas they suppose to be.
Bichi said “We are pleading with the Senate to expedite action in harmonize the Bill and we are calling for Mr President to ascent to it as quickly as possible when he receive it.
“Passing the bill will accord opportunity to practitioners to face various Social Vices head on confronting our society in solving them completely or reducing them to the barest minimum.
“Social Workers have many roles to play in this present Government especially in the area of IDPs, etc but unfortunately like I keep on lamenting lack of enabling law is contributing to non inclusion of Social Workers in areas where they are supposed to be at helm of affairs plus many challenges
Comrade Chidi Onah who is the National President, Nigeria Association of Social Work Students (NASOWS), informed that the passage of the bill was long overdue.
Onah said “Social work forms the foundation on which advanced societies were built. We must get it right in Nigeria and expand the frontiers of prospects that the profession holds for humanity and society.
“May I therefore call on the National Assembly and the President to do the needful to bring about the passage of this all important law. As we do that, may God help us and bless Nigeria.”
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