THE Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to pass the social work bill in order for practitioners to be licensed.

The Director of Social Work, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Toyin Jaiyeola, explained that the bill would enable social workers to be accountable.

Jaiyeola, who was represented by the Social Welfare Officer in the ministry, Mr Wellington Olalekan, made this call at a colloquium organised by NASoW to commemorate Social Workers’ Day at Alausa, Ikeja.

She said, “Every profession is a creation of the law. Therefore, it is very important for social workers to also be professionally licensed and recognised by the government. It will also enable practitioners to be accountable, particularly in Lagos State where there are many social welfare officers and social workers who are rendering services to the people.

“The bill needs to be addressed by the Federal Government and the National Assembly, so we will not stop advocating and encouraging the leaders we voted for and show them the need for this bill to be passed.”

A lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Lagos, Dr Adebowale Ayobade, said the social work bill will ensure that only trained educators can teach.

“Social work is an emerging discipline in Nigeria unlike many countries where it is well-established; it is about theory and practice, we deal with its theory as social work educators, while the professionals deal with its practice.

“It is a challenging situation where our social work students are being trained in the field by non-social workers and the agencies and non-governmental organisations are recruiting non-social workers to render services. The social work bill will curb this,” she said.