CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONER ACT

What Is This Policy?

The Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria (C-ISOWN) Act 2022 establishes C-ISOWN as the statutory regulatory and professional body for social work in Nigeria, empowered to regulate, set standards for, and control the practice of social work to address Nigeria's significant social challenges, including child welfare, domestic violence, disability inclusion, and community development.

Who Does It Target?

Social workers in government agencies, hospitals, schools, courts, correctional facilities, and NGOs Social work graduates from Nigerian universities who must register and be certified before practising Individuals and organisations providing social welfare services without professional credentials Federal and state MDAs with social service delivery mandates, including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, NCPWD, and NPOWER

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Professionalise and regulate social work practice, eliminating quackery and ensuring only trained, registered practitioners deliver social services Determine and uphold minimum standards of knowledge, skill, and ethics required of all practising social workers in Nigeria Establish and maintain a national register of certified social work practitioners, updated annually and published for public accountability Promote the rights, welfare, and social development of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities through evidence-based social work practice

Key Features

Practitioner Registration: All social workers must register with C-ISOWN; unregistered persons are prohibited from holding social work positions in MDAs, NGOs, hospitals, and courts Mandatory Training and Retraining: All registrants undergo a mandatory training and examination process before certification; annual CPD requirements apply to maintain registration Professional Stamp and Seal: Social workers with three or more years of practice receive an official C-ISOWN professional stamp and seal, authenticating case reports and legal documentation Ethics and Discipline: C-ISOWN enforces a code of ethics for social workers; the disciplinary committee investigates complaints of professional misconduct State Domestication Drive: C-ISOWN is actively encouraging all 36 state governments and the FCT to domesticate the Act at state level, creating a unified national regulatory framework Diaspora Practitioners: C-ISOWN registers Nigerian social work practitioners in the diaspora through its international membership programme

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; approximately 5,670 social workers inducted and registered as of 2025; nationwide retraining and categorisation under way Implementing Body: Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria (C-ISOWN); supervised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Coverage: National; expanding registration drives ongoing in all 36 states and FCT, including in federal MDAs, hospitals, courts, and NGOs Advocacy: C-ISOWN is advocating for the Federal Government to mandate the engagement of C-ISOWN-certified practitioners for all government social service delivery contracts

How to Access

Social Workers: Register with C-ISOWN through the national registration portal at c-isown.org; submit your social work degree certificate, complete the mandatory retraining programme, and sit for the proficiency examination Employers: Verify that all social work staff hold current C-ISOWN certification; contact C-ISOWN for bulk registration guidance for your organisation Report Quackery: Report unregistered persons falsely holding themselves out as social workers to C-ISOWN's disciplinary desk at c-isown.org Contact: C-ISOWN: c-isown.org | Abuja Secretariat, Nigeria

Official Resources

Website: c-isown.org Contact: Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria, Abuja | [email protected] Policy Summary | Source: C-ISOWN, Vanguard, Guardian Nigeria, Tribune Online, Leadership Nigeria, c-isown.org | February 2026

Legal Framework

The Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners of Nigeria (C-ISOWN) Act 2022 establishes the Institute under statute. It operates under the Social Work and Social Administration framework, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the National Health Act 2014. C-ISOWN aligns with the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) global standards for social work education and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) global definition of social work.