Association Appeals National Assembly To Give Social Works Bill Quick Passage

ABEOKUTA - The National Association of Social Workers has appealed to the leadership of National Assembly to as a matter of urgency, give a social works bill a quick passage saying that the delay in the passage is really affecting their practice.

The association expressed optimism that if the bill is passed it will give their job more recognition in Nigeria.

The National Secretary, Dr. Balogun Olagunju disclosed this on Thursday during the year 2022 World Social Day with the theme "Co-Building a new eco-social world: leaving no one behind" held at Women Development training centre, in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.

Present at the event included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Melutia Ogunremi, Special Assistant to the state governor on inter-ethnic matters, Prince Hadi Sanni, the association national secretary, Dr. Balogun Olakunle Olagunju among others.

Dr. Olagunju, who is also a senior lecturer at Tai Solarin University, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode argued that the delay in passage of social work bill is really affecting their practice, saying that if the bill passed, it will give them an edge in carrying out their legitimate duties in Nigeria. 

According to him, "the delay is really affecting us, because when you are not licensed to do your job, you wouldn't do it well or when such job is being done and nobody give you recognition.

"Our appeal to the state government is to tell the federal government to give our bill a quick passage.

"Another request is for others that doesn't know what it entails to be in this association, please join, because the issue of social working is not a single man's issue, we're facing a series of problem."

While speaking on the theme of this year's celebration, Olagunju said the theme of this year celebration is "Co-Building" when we talk about Co-Building it has to do with interrelated, interconnected, co-joint saying that there's needs to rise to assist each other.

Olagunju, however appealed to the government to do the needful on the issues of insecurity, kidnapping, banditry bedeviling the country adding that there's need for each of the member of individual to have sense of belonging.

In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Melutia Ogunremi said social workers are highly important in the society and in the life of people.

The Permanent Secretary hinted that social workers job is also to take care of elderly, encouraging them to always be of help to the society.

 

"I want to say to those that have been doing to continue, I believe there's a blessing for those that does it diligently.", Ogunremi said.

On his parts, the Chairman, Nigeria Association of Social Workers, Ogun State chapter Prince Adesina Adetoye said the association arrived to this year theme as to invite every stakeholders to come together to make the world a better place for everyone.

Prince Adetoye pointed out  "transformation" as the most viable challenge the association is facing.

His words "One of the most viable challenges the association is facing is the transformation of the association to become a full-fledged abided by the law of Nigeria as a profession.

"We are using this medium to implore the federal government and other stakeholders involved in ensuring that this profession that has been serving the society in all areas of engagement is transformed into a full-fledged association." Adetoye appealed.