Social workers in Lagos State have expressed deep concern over what they described as persistently low wages, warning that poor remuneration is undermining professionalism, morale and the quality of social services delivered to vulnerable populations.
The concerns were raised by the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASoW) during its end-of-year and award-giving ceremony held in Isheri, Ojodu-Berger. Speaking at the event, the association’s chairperson, Modupeola Sahid-Adebambo, lamented that many trained social workers continue to earn salaries that do not reflect their education, expertise or societal value.
Naija247News gathered that Sahid-Adebambo described the situation as demoralising, particularly for professionals who invest years in academic training and personal sacrifice, only to be offered wages as low as ₦50,000 monthly, even with a master’s degree. She stressed that such pay levels are unacceptable and unsustainable in the face of rising living costs.
According to her, the association plans to intensify advocacy efforts from 2026 to address the issue head-on. While acknowledging that social workers are not demanding extravagant pay, she emphasised the need for fair and dignified compensation that reflects their contribution to social development, child protection, mental health support and community welfare.
Naija247News understands that the NASoW chairperson also called on social workers to strengthen unity within the profession, noting that collective action is critical to resisting exploitation and driving policy change. She added that capacity-building through continuous training remains essential, alongside engagement with key stakeholders such as orphanage operators and the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
At the event, a principal social worker at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Akinyemi Smith, delivered a lecture focusing on ethics and well-being in the profession. He highlighted the importance of a strong ethical framework in ensuring accountability, service quality and public trust. Smith warned that neglecting the physical, emotional and financial well-being of social workers could lead to burnout, compassion fatigue and impaired judgement.
Naija247News reports that he urged practitioners to prioritise holistic self-care and avoid internalising clients’ trauma, stressing that a balanced workforce is critical to effective service delivery.
Meanwhile, the assistant secretary of the NASoW Lagos chapter, Olusegun Okusanya, called on the Federal Government to urgently operationalise the Nigerian Council for Social Work. Naija247News gathered that although the Social Work Establishment Act was signed into law in 2022, the regulatory council has yet to be constituted or inaugurated.
He noted that the absence of a functional regulatory body has weakened standard-setting, enforcement of professional ethics and salary benchmarks nationwide. Stakeholders at the event agreed that without decisive government action, the social work profession risks further marginalisation, despite its critical role in Nigeria’s social protection and development framework.
Babatunde Ogunsakin ✔
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