The Nigerian Society of Engineers has implored the Federal Government to give local engineers contract.
The president of the society, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, made this appeal on Saturday during a press conference held to commemorate World’s Engineering Day.
According to The Punch, the call was in accordance with Executive Order 5 which was initiated to promote the adoption of local content in technological innovation. Also, to allow engineers in the country access to contract opportunities and consideration.
This publication recalls that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd ), had on February 2, 2018, signed Executive Order 5 “for the planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology.”
But speaking to journalists, Wudil expressed disappointment about the ineffectiveness of the order to reduce the number of expatriates granted work permits.
However, the order has not been implemented as promised because government still employ expatriates to carry out engineering projects.
Expressing his disappointment to journalists, Wudil spoke about the ineffectiveness of the order to reduce the number of expatriates in the country.
In his words, “We have noticed over the years that certain critical sections of executive order 5 are not being fully implemented.
“The order stipulates that if there is a missing skill in Nigeria, that contractor or company is allowed to bring expatriates but there must be two Nigerian engineers that will understudy them.
He lamented about the number of foreign engineers still present in the country despite the number of skilled engineers in the country.
“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,” he said.
He added, “We do not find this acceptable and want to draw the attention of relevant authorities to this anomaly, stressing that those sections of the PEO 5 will be implemented to the latter.”
