FG COMMITTED TO IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL WORK IN NIGERIA

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, says the Federal government is committed towards the improvement of social work in the Country.

The Permanent Secretary made the remark during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Association of Social Workers ,  in Abuja.

He said everything the Ministry is  doing is anchored by social  workers, and called on the Association to partner with the Ministry to make social work easier, more successful and sustainable in the country.

Dr Gwarzo told the President of the Association to come up with a very ambitious and  practicable action plan and set a target for Nigeria.

He charged the Association to be strategically bold and  align their operations with the Ministry’s activities in social services delivery.

The Permanent Secretary  also used the occasion to remind the  Association that he was also  a health and social worker by his  background as a medical doctor, a public health physician and  epidemiologist, who spent over  30 years working in the field handling one epidemic or another, at community level.

Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers, Alh. Mashood Mustapha, stated that they were in the Ministry to celebrate social workers,  being a global event to  recognise the social services across the globe and the great effort  social workers  are making towards improvement of  humanity.

He said the theme for this year is ” Respecting Diversity Through Joint Social Action”.

“Its all about been there for one another, its all about humility and understanding  the  diversity, to move forward as a nation”.

He thanked the ministry for what they have been doing in improving  humanity through its various social programmes.

 The President of the Association also congratulated the Ministry on the signing of the Nigeria  Council of Social Work (Regulatory) Bill into law in December, 2022, by President Muhammadu Buhari, which would give legal backing to social practice in Nigeria. The passage of the Bill is a great achievement to the President and the  Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The Bill will promote quality social service delivery to the social work community in Nigeria.

Alh. Mustapha said they look forward to having a symbiotic relationship with the Ministry towards the implementation of the Bill .

The Director Social Development of the Ministry, Taiwo Bashorun Ademola, in a vote of thanks commended the Permanent Secretary for approving training programmes for social workers and so case management officers. He said such trainings have not been organised in the past 28 years.

In attendance were  Directors of the Ministry and members  

of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers

Rhoda Ishaku Iliya

Deputy Director Information

 30th March, 2023