The Nigeria Association of Social Workers on Wednesday urged the National Assembly to prioritise passage of the Social Work Bill in view of the social crises caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Chairman of the association in Kaduna State, Dr Hussayn Idris, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
Idris explained that the bill sought to, among other things, to professionalise and institutionalise social work for a robust response to social protection issues in the country.
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He noted that the current lockdown to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 had created a need for social workers to mobilise and respond to community psycho-social and resilience needs.
Idris said that people in communities, particularly the vulnerable groups were in shock due to the socio-economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 lockdown.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need for professional social workers to help communities and the vulnerable poor to fashion out ways to cope with and survive the current difficulties being experienced.
“The profession encompasses people from different fields such as medical social service, correctional care, community development, youth development, women development, psychosocial scientists and many others.
“But, it is crippled by the absence of a legal framework needed to guide the activities of social workers,” he said.
Idris noted that social work had remained the only profession without regulation, stressing the need for a law to help curb quackery and indiscipline in its practice.
He said there was the need for the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill to legalise and ensure professionalism in social work practice.
“The Bill entitled, “Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017″ was first passed in December 2017 by the National Assembly and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.
“But, Buhari refused to assent to the bill due to lack of clarity over the scope of the profession, which was updated and sent back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
“When passed and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Council for Social Work will among other things, promote professional practice and uphold social work ethics and values.
“The council shall equally determine what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the profession,” Idris said.