‘Violators of Executive Order 5 to be Prosecuted’

By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The federal government has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), that the violators of the Presidential Executive Order No.5 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018, would be prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies in accordance with extant laws.

It also said that a presidential monitoring and evaluation council would be constituted and headed by the President in order to monitor the implementation of the executive order.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at the  North Central Dialogue on the Presidential Executive Order No.5, for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigeria Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology.

He said that the Order was not just for engineers but for all professionals and was capable of revolutionalising every sector of the country’s economy.

The minister stressed that a law would be made to ensure that the country institutionalised all that was contained in the order to ensure that successive administration did not derail from its implementation.

The Order stipulates among others that: “The punishment for violation of this Executive Order shall be as stipulated by the Public Service Rules and relevant laws governing procurement practice in Nigeria.

“The Executive order shall be read in conjunction with extant laws, regulations and guidelines governing public procurement, prose, implementation and professional practice in Nigeria, as well as those may be issued pursuant to this Order,

“The use of foreign language software for mapping of Nigerian solid minerals and other projects requiring mapping is prohibited,

“A Nigerian company or firm shall not be disqualified from an award of contracts by MDAs on the basis of the year of incorporation; but rather, on the basis of qualification , competence and experience in the management and execution of such contracts.”

On his part, the President, Association of Consulting Engineers, Engr. Charles Akindayomi, said that the executive Order 5 was long awaited and a welcome revolution in the affairs of the country.

Akindayomi, who was represented by Mr. Sam Otenaike, noted that before now, Nigeria was an all-comers industry- Lebanese, Indians, Americans, saying that all foreigners come in to take all the juicy projects all in the name of lack of expertise in Nigeria.

He stressed: “But for how long will that continue, we needed a law or an order to protect the Nigeria in terms of local content. To ensure that we are given some kind of privilege in the execution of contracts that as being sponsored by the monies from the tax payers or the wealth of Nigerians.

“That is why I think it is a revolution and it is a welcomed development. We all know the letter of this executive order, but the real spirit is what will drive it in the implementation. My prayers is that all the MDAs will truly catch the spirit of this executive order to ensure that it is properly implemented for the good and benefit of Nigerians and the development of our nation.