The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has called for the full implementation of the critical sections of the Presidential Executive Order No 5.
The president of NSE Engr Tasiu Gidari-Wudil made this call yesterday during a press conference held in Abuja in commemoration of the 2023 World Engineering Day with the theme:” Engineering Innovations for a More Resilient World.”
Wudil said, they have noticed over the years that certain critical sections of the Executive Order are not being fully implemented.
He however, pointed out that Section 7(2) of the Order named “Database of Experts” states that:“The Ministry of Interior shall take into consideration the manpower database of NOTAP, Federal ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, etc, in determining the availability of local skilled manpower in Science, Technology and Innovation for the grant of expatriate quota.
Also, Section 8(1) named “Expatriate Quota” states that: “The Ministry of Interior shall ensure that Expatriate Quota for projects, contracts and programmes are granted in line with the provisions of the Immigration Act and other relevant laws, where qualifications and competence of Nigerian Nationals are not available or cannot be ascertained, which shall be contingent on training such number of persons as may be required for the execution of the contract or project.
“Unfortunately, our checks have revealed that despite the abundance of databases for Engineers, Technologists and Artisans in Nigeria, what we find in many construction sites across the country are expatriates of equal qualifications, and some even without skills at all. We do not find this acceptable.
“Therefore, on Thursday, March 2, 2023, I led a delegation of some of our Past Presidents and Executives on a visit to the minister of Interior. We have drawn his attention to this anomaly and stressed the need for those sections of the PEO 5 to be implemented.”
It could recall that on February 2, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, signed the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 “For the Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science. Engineering and Technology”. Since then, the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers has taken ownership of the document and has been monitoring its implementation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Society of Engineers also views with severe dismay and as a national disgrace, the recent collapse of a 3-storey building on 6th Avenue, Gwarimpa District, Abuja, describing as unfortunate incidence which have resulted in humongous deaths and maiming of innocent Nigerians.
However, the Nigerian Society of Engineers is setting a model for Engineering Innovation, and as such is currently executing the Smart Office Project. This project comprises of an Innovation Hub; Automation and Engineering Lab; AI/IoT Hub; Virtual Offices, SMART Physical offices, E-library and Training facilities.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is spear-heading the adaptation of curricula and teaching methods to ensure that engineering professionals and students are innovative, and developing these skills. Additionally, training programs are being created and developed to upskill and reskill NSE Members to meet the demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).
It is also encouraging more young people, especially girls and women, to consider Engineering as a career.
