President Muhammadu Buhari Monday
in Abuja signed an Executive Order to enhance local content in public
procurement.
The order, according to his media
aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, which consists of science, engineering and technology
components, is expected to promote the application of science, technology and
innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors
of the economy.
The statement 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 issuing visas to foreign workers whose
skills are readily available in Nigeria, adding 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.
The statement added that in the
order titled: “Presidential Executive Order Five for Planning and Execution of
Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering
and Technology,” the president has directed ministries, departments and
agencies (MDAs) to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and
execution of national security projects.
It said: “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.”
The president also signed the
Instruments of Ratification of the Bilateral Air Services Agreements between
the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Governments of the
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Congo, the People’s
Republic of China, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Singapore.
In another statement, Shehu said
the execution of the instruments was expected to link Nigeria’s aviation with
the respective countries and consequently improve significantly flight
operations to and from the countries.
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