FG establishes social work regulatory body
The Federal Government launched the Nigeria Council of Social Work (NCSW) to regulate social work in the country.
Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, who inaugurated the council with board members yesterday in Abuja, said the council has a legal obligation to strictly adhere to all regulations guiding the practice of social work in Nigeria. He said there is.
She said: “The Nigeria Social Work Council is aimed at professionals serving vulnerable populations, which is why the Ministry of Women Affairs plays a leading role in the composition of the council.” I am.
“Given the importance of regulatory laws to the social work community and for the profession to operate on par with other eminent professions in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with UNICEF, The bill was then submitted to the National Assembly and approved by the President in December 2022 to ensure its final passage.
“Additionally, the fact that the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs houses the largest social work sector as stipulated in the Nigeria Social Work Council Establishment Act, 2022, emphasizes the importance of the ministry leading the process of establishing the council. I cannot stress this enough.
“Additionally, most social services states and departments attend the National Council on Women’s Issues for policy direction.”
“They will also serve as a clearinghouse for draft policies and programs related to strengthening Nigeria’s social welfare workforce to ensure uniformity and standardization,” she said.
Barrister Kennedy Ohanenye said that in constituting the board, the board was made to operate in line with section 3(1-2) of the Nigeria Council for Social Services (Establishment) Act, 2022.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Program Country Director, Child Protection, Chikodi Onyemelela, urged social workers to work and act in accordance with the guidelines of the profession.
She noted the importance of regulating social work for the protection of children and vulnerable people in Nigeria.
This organization is tasked with providing general guidance and direction at the national level for all activities related to the planning, development, and support of the social services workforce. These activities could be disseminated to state and local levels for adoption, implementation, and coordination among various agencies. It not only plays an important role in the issue of strengthening social welfare personnel, but also serves as a clearinghouse for draft policies and programs on strengthening social welfare personnel in Nigeria, ensuring uniformity and standardization.
The Ministry’s Deputy Director-General for Gender Affairs, Ms. Okwesa Obiajuri, recalled that there is no functional legal framework for social work practice in Nigeria and urged stakeholders to table the bill.
He said the bill would enable the Council to act as a cleaning body for the social work profession, promoting professional standards, improving effectiveness and efficiency, and regulating the practice of social work.
“Given the importance of this Act to the social work community, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number of emergencies that require immediate intervention in Nigeria.
“The council will promote the implementation of the National Council of Social Work Act.
Source: guardian.ng