Nigeria: concerns over delays for social worker regulation
Stakeholders in Nigeria's social work sector have expressed concern over the delay in establishing the Nigerian Council for Social Work, despite the enactment of the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Act in 2022. During a strategic meeting organized by the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) in collaboration with the Association of Social Work Educators in Nigeria (ASWEN), the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), and the Institute of Social Work in Nigeria (ISOWN), participants highlighted that the absence of the council hampers the regulation, standardization, and advancement of the profession. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expedite the operationalization of the council to ensure proper oversight of social work practices across various sectors, including health, education, justice, and humanitarian services. The stakeholders emphasized their commitment to continued advocacy and collaboration with relevant authorities to enhance the delivery of essential social services and promote national development through professional social work practice.