By JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

National Vice President and South West Co-ordinator, National Association of Social Workers, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, has urged the Federal Government to facilitate passage of Social Work Bill which has since 2012 been at the National Assembly.

Lamenting that social work practice had suffered greatly in the country due to poor recognition and remuneration accorded professionals, Alaba, who spoke at a symposium organised by the National Association of Social Workers, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund-UNICEF and Lagos State Ministry for Women Affairs in Lagos, said the passage of the bill would ensure best practices as well as safety for abused members of society.

Alaba, who bemoaned that the lack of legislative tools for professionals had given room for infiltration by quacks, said, “the infiltration of the field by quacks is currently affecting professionals.

“But when we get recognised as a profession, we will be able to flush out quacks. With adequate provision for hazards on the job also, since we do so much and earn less, professionals will be more devoted.”

Stressing that the neglect of social workers as well as social welfare provision for the citizenry had promoted child abuse, violence, delinquency and all forms of societal ills in the country, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Lagos, Mrs. Roselyn Akinroye, and Permanent Secretary, Youths & Social Development, Lagos State, Dr. Segun John Oshinyimika, explained that one of the cornerstones for the implementation of acts as the Child Rights Acts was a vibrant social work sector.

“Child abuse is on the rise and it is a challenge to us as social workers to combat the scourge and other present day challenges in the society,” they said.