A group of professional and trained Social Workers across Nigeria, Forum of Concerned Professional and Trained Social Workers in Nigeria (FCPTSWN), has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, to stop further work on the bill introduced by Sylvester Ogbaga (Abakaliki/Izzi, Ebonyi State), saying it would be in conflict with Nigerian Council of Social Work bill.
Copies of the petition were sent to the Office of the Vice President, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Director General, Department of State Service, Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, International Federation of Social Workers, among others.
Already, President Muhammadu Buhari had few weeks ago refused to sign the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017 earlier sent to him.
The group in a statement made available to journalists by its spokesperson, Musliudeen Adebayo noted that Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill which has been passed, when assented to by the President will serve as one of its major achievements saying “it will address various socio-economic and political problems militating against the existence of Nigeria and its people”.
While calling on Nigerians to support it in ensuring that “Nigerian Council of Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017” is signed by the President without further delay, FCPTSWN lamented that it was surprised that some elements under the guise of Institute of Social Work of Nigeria (ISWON) led by John Emaimo (executive director) and Eze Ifem (president) are sponsoring another bill “Chartered institute of social work practitioners”, which is not only in conflict with the existing bill but tends to cause confusion.
FCPTSWN while pledging its support to Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella body of Social Workers in the country, NASWE, AMSWON and other relevant bodies in kicking against what it called a ‘broad day robbery’ on the profession of Social Work, noted that the bill introduced by ISWON would not only regulate, control and relegate the profession of social work and its practitioners, but make Social Workers in the country, NASOW, NASWE and AMSWON, among other bodies irrelevant because, ISWON, by the provision of the proposed bill will be the only body controlling Social Work and its practitioners in Nigeria.
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
