The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), which is the umbrella body of all professional social workers in the country, have said the inauguration of the Nigeria Council for Social Work lacked procedural merit.
The association noted that the inauguration of the council without the contributions of the association is in contrast to the Act.
NASoW National President, Mashood Mustapha made these declarations on Friday via a statement made available to journalists through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Musliudeen Adebayo.
Recall that the Nigeria Council for Social Work [Establishment] Act 2022 which has been gazetted was signed by former President, Muhammadu Buhari in December 2022.
Our correspondent gathered that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had invited some individuals to the inauguration of the pioneer Nigeria Council for Social Work, on Friday.
However, NASoW President in the statement issued in Lagos, described the step taken by the ministry as an aberration to the act.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the matter, arguing that the Act recognised NASoW as the umbrella body for the profession and that all things to be done must be in tandem with the association’s contributions.
“The inauguration of the council did not follow due process. It lacked procedural merit. The act recognised NASoW as a major stakeholder. As a major stakeholder, NASoW needs to be contacted and officially invited before the inauguration is done. We were not contacted. NASoW also viewed with dismay that the timing of the inauguration was wrong. The inauguration is done at a time when Social Workers in Nigeria are hosting the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Africa Region conference in Lagos.
“The inauguration by the Ministry of Women Affairs is taking place at a time when the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is planning to constitute the council. The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has sent an official letter to NASoW and requested us to make nominations for the council which has been done. So, we are surprised that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is inaugurating another Council today. We cannot have two councils for Social Work and the two ministries should not work at cross purposes.
“NASoW as a major stakeholder should have two representatives in the council, but to our surprise, NASoW was not requested to make nominations nor contacted or invited. This is an aberration to the provisions of the act. We call on the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to call the Minister of Women Affairs to order and decide where the council will be domiciled to avoid all these unnecessary conflicts of interest and embarrassment among the various federal ministries in the country.
“Another important thing is that the appointment of the Chairman of the board must be approved by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are not aware if this has been done. We hereby call on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the matter.
“The president of the association hereby registered his displeasure on the way the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is handling the constitution and inauguration of the Council of Social Work in Nigeria. Section 30 of the act recognises the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) as the umbrella body of Social work organisations in Nigeria.
“I wish to call the attention of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and commander- in – Chief of Armed Forces to intervene and put a round peg in a round hole by addressing which of the three ministries will the new board domiciled either the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the ministry of Women Affairs or ministry of health and social welfare”.
