*Says local contractors, products now given priority over foreign
*Directs no visas for foreigners doing jobs Nigerians can do
*MDAs directed to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects
…The DEFENDER once called for patronage of local contractors, products, Respondent recalls
Shehu said, the President, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the Constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.” The Executive Order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria. It, however, notes that where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday in Abuja, signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.
Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement he issued in Abuja, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER evening of Monday.
The Executive Order, according to the statement, is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.
Shehu said, the President, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the Constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.’’
The Executive Order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.
It, however, notes that where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.
In the proclamation entitled ‘‘PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER 5 FOR PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF PROJECTS, PROMOTION OF NIGERIAN CONTENT IN CONTRACTS AND SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,’’ the President also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.
It adds that ‘‘consideration shall only be given to a foreign professional, where it is certified by the appropriate authority that such expertise is not available in Nigeria.’’
It would be recalled mid last year The DEFENDER, in one of its editorials, had called on the President to act on the need to make more contracts awards available to Nigerian contractors and that, even in cases where they do not meet the standard, prop them up to meet the standard.
This online media organisation said this because, according the the editorial, there are many well trained Nigerian engineers who are into constructions and yet are not getting commiserate contract awarded to them by the governments of Nigeria who rather award their contracts to foreign contractors whose only contribution to national economy is capital flight.
The latest action by President Muhammadu Buhari signing the Executive Order making it no longer the case that foreigners will get jobs which Nigerians can do locally is therefore said to be highly commendable.
