FCT Social Workers Flay Composition of National Council

The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASOW) has criticised the composition of the government council responsible for regulating social work in Nigeria, arguing it lacks proper representation from the association itself.

At NASOW’s FCT congress held at the Cyprian Ekwensi Center in Abuja yesterday, the chapter chairman, Gugong Alfred Helen, called on the federal government to include more social workers from NASOW in the council’s membership.

She said the current council was dominated by members from other bodies rather than NASOW, which is the recognised umbrella organisation for all social workers in the country.

“We are calling on the federal government to accommodate more social workers in the present constitution of the government council responsible for social works in the country, as the majority of members currently emanate from other bodies other than our recognized NASOW,” Helen said.

She highlighted NASOW’s vital role in bringing uniformity and greater embrace of the social work profession in Nigeria.

FCT NASOW secretary, Francis Nnadozie, also raised concerns about the Act that established the social workers’ council, claiming it lacks inclusiveness since many of its members were drawn from some fringe bodies rather than NASOW itself, thereby diminishing NASOW’s representation.

“The act that established the social workers council is still lacking in all-inclusiveness as many of its members are drawn from some bodies, thereby dominating the major umbrella body,” Nnadozie stated.

“We call for a review of the present membership of the council.”

The social workers urged the federal government to encourage and properly incorporate NASOW’s perspective in regulating their profession nationwide.