The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a qualified social worker as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in the nation’s interest.
The association noted that this is necessary because it is the main ministry that has a core mandate to promote social work and quality social services delivery in the country.
NASoW made these disclosures in a congratulatory message addressed to Tinubu on his swearing-in as the President of Nigeria on Monday.
The association, in the statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, said that the appointment of a social worker who has the required knowledge and skills to paddle the affairs of the ministry would go a long way to promote the humanitarian agenda of the new administration.
Mustapha, in the statement made available to journalists through the National Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo, on Tuesday, noted that the association is ready and fully prepared to work with the new administration to achieve its aims in all areas of human development.
He added that the Nigerian Council for Social Work [Establishment ] Act, 2022, which was signed and gazetted during the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, was one of the gains of the association during the last administration.
“We are using this medium to congratulate our new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his emergence as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We appeal to the new President to appoint a social worker as the minister for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development. This is our ministry. It is the main ministry for social workers
“We advise the President to put a round peg in a round hole for the betterment of the country. Someone who has the required knowledge and skills in humanitarian work, disaster management and social development.
“We are also waiting for the time when the Nigerian Council for Social Work would be constituted. We are expecting the new President to appoint a minister who has the required knowledge of Social Work as we expect the minister to constitute the board as soon as possible.
“The Nigerian Council for Social Work [Establishment] Act 2022 has been gazetted. Our law has become an act of parliament, this implies that a lot of good things are coming for the good people of Nigeria. The council is yet to be constituted, when this is done , it will help to give more recognition to social work practice in Nigeria.
“The establishment of the council will create job opportunities and enabling environment for social workers to provide the much desired quality social services to the people of Nigeria and reduce the migration of social workers to other countries in quest for prosperity”.