The Nigerian Association of Social Workers (NASoW) on Monday called on the National Assembly to expedite the processes for passing the Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill.
The association also called on the president to give his assent to the bill once it passes the legislature.
NASoW National Chairman Alhaji Mashood Mustapha made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Mustapha said passage of the bill would give legal backing to the operations of social workers in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, the activities of social workers were not supported by parliament, we will continue to wait and hope for the National Assembly for the passage of the bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for his approval.
“More than 50 tertiary institutions in Nigeria offer social works, necessitating swift regulation of the profession to weed out quacks and streamline its operations in line with best practices,” he said.
Mustapha said the international community was eagerly awaiting the passage of the bill to include Nigerian social workers in the committee of recognized professionals.
He said that the problems facing the country, such as kidnappings, banditry and terrorism, require the participation of social workers to solve them.
Mustapha said the association has engaged various stakeholders to help encourage the government to do the necessary on the bill.
Also speaking, the President of NASoW, Lagos Chapter, Ms. Olubunmi Lamilisa told NAN that the lack of legislation on the profession of social workers has contributed to the huge challenges faced by social workers in the country. .
Lamilisa lamented the contrasting conditions of social work professionals in Nigeria and their counterparts across the world.
She noted that social workers in other jurisdictions were well regulated and supported by their governments.
“Social workers do a lot on human rights, domestic violence and addictions and need legal support to operate effectively.
“The absence of this legislation prevents us from being on par with our counterparts around the world,” she said.
NAN reports that the Nigerian Social Work Establishment Council Bill 2017 had already been passed by the National Assembly.
But in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to approve the bill due to some gray areas.
