Child Protection System Architecture and Social Work Professional Roles in Federal Nigeria: A Multilevel Analysis

Nigeria's federal governance structure creates a layered and often contradictory child protection system architecture in which social work professional roles are inconsistently defined, inadequately resourced, and weakly coordinated across federal, state, and local levels. This doctoral study undertakes a multilevel analysis of child protection system architecture and social work professional roles in Nigeria, drawing on empirical data from six states spanning all geopolitical zones. A critical realist paradigm is employed, combining a national survey of 350 child protection social workers, 60 qualitative interviews with system actors, and legal and policy document analysis. Multilevel structural equation modelling and critical discourse analysis are applied. The study's original contribution lies in constructing a system architecture typology that classifies Nigerian states along dimensions of legislative coherence, professional workforce density, and inter-agency coordination strength, revealing how architectural variation produces differential child protection outcomes. The study theorises system architecture using complexity theory and institutional theory, arguing that structural coordination deficits and professional role ambiguity constitute mechanisms through which child welfare failures are reproduced. Findings challenge the assumption that implementing national child rights legislation automatically improves professional practice without complementary investment in social work workforce development. Recommendations include developing a national child protection social work practice framework and establishing a dedicated federal monitoring mechanism. Keywords: child protection systems, social work, multilevel analysis, federal governance, institutional theory