NSE Seeks Appointment of Engineers to Man Technical Positions in Govt.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the federal government to encourage the deployment of practising engineers to man strategic positions in government requiring considerable technical know-how.

President of the NSE, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, who spoke during the Biennial Distinguished Lecture Series of the organisation, tagged “ The 28^th October Lecture,” stressed that non-engineers were being appointed to take over engineering-related spots.

“We find out that engineers and engineering practitioners have been neglected in the affairs of this country. You have a Minister of Works and Housing who is a lawyer.

“You have Minister of Communications who is very close to engineering but he is not an engineer. Minister of Water Resources is an engineer and so many ministries are engineering base. But why can’t you bring in somebody who is from that field who will be able to deliver,” he queried.

Being a very vast field of learning, he noted that there’s no segment within the profession that the government will not find its potential employees.

“Let there be a round peg in a round hole. Let the government understand that everything about governance and politics centre on infrastructural development.

“You cannot get infrastructural development by neglecting engineers. So, if we want this country to grow in infrastructure, we just have to get the right people. So, the engineers must be involved. Other technologists must be involved” he explained.

He highlighted the cases of China and the United States, which have a large percentage of engineers in government.

Also, the keynote speaker and a fellow of NSE, Dr. Otis Anyaeji, in a presentation titled: ‘’Advocacy and Activism in our Engineering DNA’’  proposed the revamping of the Ajaokuta Steel.