A group of professional and trained Social Workers across Nigeria, Forum of Concerned Professional and Trained Social Workers in Nigeria (FCPTSWN), has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017 he earlier rejected some weeks ago without wasting more time.

The group in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo, noted that Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill, which has been passed by the two houses of the National Assembly, when assented to by the President would serve as one of his major achievements “because it will address various socioeconomic and political problems militating against the existence of Nigeria and its people”.

FCPTSWN called on Nigerians to support it in ensuring that “Nigerian Council of Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017” is signed by the President without further delay. It said it was surprised that “some elements under the guise of Institute of Social Work of Nigeria (ISWON) led by one 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 pledged its support to the 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.” It noted that the bill introduced by ISWON would not only regulate, control and relegate the profession of social work and its practitioners, but would also 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.”

The group in the petition addressed to President Buhari appealed to those in positions of authority to prevail on the National Assembly especially the House of Representatives to stop further work on the bill introduced by Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga (Abakaliki/Izzi, Ebonyi State) which would be in conflict with Nigerian Council of Social Work bill.

FCPTSWN called on social workers across the country to resist any attempt to subject them to antics and plans of ISWON to silence them. It urged NASoW to call a meeting that will be open to all interested members as a way of finding lasting solutions and provide ways to which the Council bill would be sign and put a stop to the conflicting bill introduced by ISWON which can only relegate them to the background, should it allowed to be passed.

The group called the attention of relevant bodies to a planned meeting slated for this week in Abuja which has been postponed. It noted with concern that such meeting should not be a 20, 25 or 30-man affair but one that would be all-encompassing; “open to all members because such meeting where the future of social work and social workers is to be decided should not be left in the hands of some few individuals.”

FCPTSWN vowed that despite threats from some individuals and groups to truncate its efforts to rescue social work from hands of usurpers, the group will not rest on its oars to ensure that such injustice on the profession and the professionals is not allowed to stand.

It called on relevant agencies, including security agencies, to give its petition the necessary consideration it deserves. It also urged House of Representatives to stop further reading on the bill which was targeted to sabotage the age long efforts of social workers in Nigeria in ensuring that Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017 see the light of the day.

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.