THE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has challenged Nigerian professionals to brace up to the new Executive Order 5 by bidding for contracts with foreign firms in all sectors of the economy, particularly in the area of expertise that require more technical prowess.
He said this when he presided over a world press briefing on the Presidential Executive Order at FIIRO office in Oshodi, Lagos.
The current Executive Order, according to him, gives preference to Nigerian firms to be patronised first in the award of contracts and in employing consultants regardless of experience and timeline of operations, especially as regards national security, indigenous firms would be entrusted and preferred.
Dr Onu read out the major sections of the Executive Order, which is made up of 18 sections stretching from preferences, accreditation and tax incentives to definition of terms and effective date of the Order.
The minister emphasised the importance of the Executive Order, as being the “revolutionary instrument” that the current administration would employ in order to turn around the fortunes of the nation’s economy as the Federal Government was firmly poised to change Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge- based economy.
Dr Onu explained that a lot of efforts had been put into the Executive Order, and would not be abandoned. He criticised the past development efforts and opined that the Economic Recovery and Development Plan ( ERGP 2017 – 2020) together with the Executive Order would stimulate growth and development.
The minister said some of the benefits of the Executive Order would enable the country to produce all it consumed, reduce societal vices as jobs would be available and put an end to the exploitation of the nation’s economy by foreigners while infrastructure would be built by Nigerian engineers.
Earlier, the permanent secretary, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, expressed the determination of the ministry to ensure the details and benefits of the Executive Order 5 reached all parts of the country and said this new development would herald a new foundation for a strong knowledge- based economy for the country.
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