Federal government inaugurates Nigerian Council for Social Work
By Elegbede Abiodun
Federal government has inaugurated the Nigerian Council for Social Work, (NCSW), to regulate social work in the country.
Inaugurating the Council alongside it board members yesterday in Abuja, minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, said the body has the statutory duty of ensuring strict compliance to all regulations guiding the practice of social work in Nigeria.
She notes that “The Nigerian Council for Social Work is targeted at professionals who deliver services to vulnerable groups hence the reason the ministry of women affairs is playing the lead role in the constitution of the Council
“In view of the importance of the regulatory Act to the social work community and for the profession to work in status with other notable professions in Nigeria, the federal ministry of women affairs conveyed several stakeholder meetings in collaboration with UNICEF that eventually ensured the passage and transmission of the bill by the National Assembly and it’s assent into law by Mr. President in December 2022.
“Furthermore, the importance of the federal ministry of women affairs leading the process in setting up the Council cannot be overemphasize due to the fact that the ministry has the largest social work component department as stipulated in the Nigerian Council for Social Work establishment Act 2022.
“In addition, most social service states, ministries, attend the National Council for Women Affairs for policy directions.”
“They will also act as a clearing house for draft policies and programmes relating to the strengthening of social service workforce in Nigeria to ensure uniformity and standardisation,” she said.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye while constituting the board, said the board is comes to live in line with Section 3(1-2) of the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act 2022.
United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF), Country Director of Programs, Nigeria, and Child Protection Office, Chikodi Onyemerela urged social workers to work and conduct themselves according to the guidelines of the profession.
She pointed the importance of regulating social work in Nigeria for the protection of children and vulnerable persons.
Deputy Director, Gender Affairs of the ministry, Okwesa Obiajuli recalled the none existence of the legal framework for social work practice in Nigeria, prompted stakeholders to initiate a bill.
He said the bill will enable the council serve as a cleaning house for social work profession, promote professional standard, improve effectiveness and efficiency, regulate the practice of social work.
“Considering the importance of the Act to the social work community couples with the multiplication of emergency cases in Nigeria that requires immediate intervention.
“The council will drive the implementation of the national council for social work Act
The body is tasked with providing general guidance and direction at the national level on all activities relating to the planning, development and supporting of social service workforce which may be disseminated to states and local government levels for adoption and implementation, coordination among the various institutions on critical to issues of social service workforce strengthening as well as acting as a clearing house for draft policies and programmes relating to the strengthening of social service workforce in Nigeria to ensure uniformity and standardisation.
