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The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) has declared that the delays in the constitution and inauguration of Nigerian Council for Social Work is undermining the effectively of Social Work profession in the country. 

The association appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute and inaugurate the Nigerian Council for Social Work without waisting more time. 

NASoW made these declarations on Wednesday in an open letter signed by its National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha and addressed to President Tinubu. 

The letter which has been submitted at Aso Villa in Abuja was made available to journalists through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Musliudeen Adebayo. 

Mustapha in the letter titled "Open Letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the Urgent Need to Constitute the Nigerian Council for Social Work" said social workers in the country are concerned by this delay, which has left the profession without necessary oversight and regulation, risking its integrity and effectiveness.

He used the opportunity to appeal to Tinubu to expedite action on the constitution and inauguration of the Nigerian Council for Social Work. 

Mustapha while speaking further, urged Tinubu to address these irregularities and ensure that only qualified professionals, in line with the legal framework, are entrusted with this important task. 

He said that it is essential that the council, as a government agency, be led by qualified professional social workers who possess the expertise and understanding required for its governance, adding that NASoW members are committed to upholding the integrity of the profession. 

Full letter: 

Open Letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the Urgent Need to Constitute the Nigerian Council for Social Work, 

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the entire membership of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella organization for all social workers in Nigeria, I extend our warmest greetings and express our trust in your leadership. NASoW is the sole national body for professional social workers in Nigeria and it is affiliated with the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the global governing body for our profession.

Social work plays a critical role in addressing complex social issues, fostering welfare, and ensuring societal well-being. To achieve these objectives effectively, the profession and its practitioners must operate within a regulated framework. Recognizing this need, the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act, 2022 was signed into law by your predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in December 2022. This Act mandates the creation of the Nigerian Council for Social Work, an essential regulatory body that will uphold the standards of our profession in line with global best practices. Regrettably, despite the passage,  this council is yet to be constituted and inaugurated.

The Nigeria Association of Social Workers is concerned by this delay, which has left the profession without necessary oversight and regulation, risking its integrity and effectiveness.

It is essential that the council, as a government agency, be led by qualified professional social workers who possess the expertise and understanding required for its governance. Such leadership is critical to ensure that the council’s actions and policies reflect the values and standards of the profession.

Before leaving office, former President Buhari directed that the council should be under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. However, the council was not constituted prior to his departure, and subsequent developments have added to our concerns. Dr. Betta Edu started  the process very well shortly after her appointment, but her suspension occurred when preparation was at an advanced stage for the Constitution.

To our dismay, in the middle  of the process by Dr Beta Edu, some staff in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry that kicked against the Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill in 2017 because many of their staff were not trained social workers, wrongly  again advised the former Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye to move forward with the council’s constitution in a manner that did not follow established protocols. The Minister has since left her position, yet the same staff in the ministry appear intent on reconstituting the council through the newly appointed Minister for Women Affairs forgetting that that the  ministry has no correlation at all with Nigerian Council for Social Work.

It has come to our notice, that staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs  out of mischief put undue pressure on the National Council for Women's Societies (NCWS) at the 24th National Council Meeting on Women Affairs held  on Monday 28th of October, Tuesday  29th of October, and Wednesday  29th of October 2024 in Jos, Plateau State through a memo to influence this process in favor of the Ministry of Women Affairs, which is totally out of the mandate of the Women's Council in a deliberate attempt to cause confusion  and disaffection  among the two new Ministers  in the two ministries for their pecuniary interests when it is even very clear that the NCWS has no power under the law  to take such executive decision. Such actions not only undermine the profession but violate its standards. As the saying goes, "One cannot shave someone’s head in  his absence."

In light of these circumstances, we humbly appeal to Your Excellency to intervene and prevent any further misdirection by the Ministry of Women Affairs regarding the constitution of this council by allowing  the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to complete the simple process in line with the Act.

Social work is both an academic discipline and a practice-based profession that must not be commercialized or misrepresented.

Mr. President, we respectfully request that you leverage your esteemed office to address these irregularities and ensure that only qualified professionals, in line with the legal framework, are entrusted with this important task.

NASoW members are committed to upholding the integrity of our profession. We appeal to Your Excellency to expedite action on the constitution and inauguration of the Nigerian Council for Social Work. Delays in this process risk undermining the effectiveness and credibility of social work in Nigeria.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Alhaji Mashood Mustapha 

NASoW National President 

Telephone: 07037362210

Email: president@nasow.org

Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella professional body for all social workers in the country has announced its readiness to hold its 39 Annual National Conference/ Annual General Meeting tagged Abuja 2024.

The association noted that the national conference is expected to take place between 19th and 23rd November this year at Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture Complex Auditorium, Area 10, Garki, Abuja. 

NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, made these declarations in a statement made available to journalists through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Musliudeen Adebayo on Tuesday. 

Mustapha, said that expected participants at the conference include professional social workers working with NGOs, hospitals, private practice, schools, ministries, agencies and departments offering social welfare services, social work lecturers from institutions offering social work/ social development courses, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students of social work home and in the Diaspora. 

He added that the event which has "Partnerships for Professional Social Work in Nigeria: Leveraging the Social Work Act and Development Partners for Impact" will afford social workers within and outside the country the opportunity to interact, share ideas and knowledge, career opportunities both at home and overseas and other related issues. 

He explained further that the conference will also feature stakeholders engagement which will be an avenue for the association and development partners to brainstorm on critical issues affecting the profession. 

"The Nigeria Association of Social Workers will like to use this medium to inform social workers in Nigeria and those in the Diaspora that the 39th NASoW National Conference and Annual General Meeting tagged Abuja 2024 is scheduled to hold in November. Registration for the Conference and AGM has commenced. 

"The Conference/ Annual General Meeting will take place between 19th and 23rd November this year in Abuja. 

"The theme of the event is "Partnerships for Professional Social Work in Nigeria: Leveraging the Social Work Act and Development Partners for Impact" this will afford social workers within and outside the country the opportunity to interact, share ideas and knowledge, career opportunities both at home and overseas and other related issues. 

"The second day of the conference will feature stakeholders engagement where we will be interacting with development partners to brainstorm on critical issues affecting the profession and the practitioners in the country. 

"We are expecting participants locally and internationally to attend the conference which will be hybrid. This is in line with the new normal and global best practices. 

"The venue of the conference is Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture Complex Auditorium, Area 10, Garki, Abuja. Arrival 19th, Conference, 20th, Stakeholders engagement 21st, Annual General Meeting 22nd, Departure 23rd. 

"Registration for the conference is ongoing, we are using this opportunity to inform the participants to register for the conference before the closing date".