By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
The National President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engineer Adekunle Mokuolu has observed that Nigeria is not in short supply of good policies and initiatives like Presidential Executive Order 5, saying the greatest obstacle to sustainable development has been the lack of political will to enforce effective implementation of policies from one administration to the other.
Engineer Mokuolu who was represented by the Chief Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Kaduna State Polytechnic, Dr. Okopi Alex Momoh made the observation in his goodwill message during the North-West Dialogue on Presidential Executive Order No. 5 and sensitization on the National Science, Technology and Innovations Road-map (NSTIR) 2030 at the Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research on Friday, 17th of August, 2018.
The National President was of the opinion that to maximize the benefits of the Presidential Executive Order 5, NSE is reinforcing professional engineering ethics and encouraging formation of Consortia of engineering firms by its members for synergy and resource pooling to take advantage of the Margin of Preference in National Competitive Bidding provided by the Order.
He affirmed that this unique Presidential initiative if patriotically implemented will lead to very many national gains such as massive employment generation from accelerated growth of technological enterprises, full scale utilization of Nigerian engineers from prohibition of foreign workers whose skills are readily available in the country to grow the national economy, changed consumption patterns in favor of locally produced goods and commercialization of technologies developed in the country with corresponding expansion of the nation’s industrial base.
Engineer Mokuolu said NSE is also improving its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform for real time record of its members for ease of identification of capacities and professional competencies.
“In recognition of the potentials of Nigerian engineers in Diaspora, we have created essential linkages with them with the establishment of Houston (USA) and London (UK) Branches of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
“NSE is prepared to partner with relevant agencies of government and other critical stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of Order 5.
“It is pertinent to note that the country is not in short supply of good policies and initiatives like Executive Order 5. However, our greatest obstacle to sustainable development has been the lack of political will to enforce effective implementation of policies from one administration to the other. We hope and pray that in the emerging new dispensation, there will be a complete departure from the past.
“The American Presidential Executive Order proclamations and implementation strategies from one administration to another is worthy of emulation by Nigeria.
“President H. W Bush created the “Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)” on January 19, 1990 through Executive Order 12700. Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama reestablished slightly different versions of PCAST during their administrations while President Trump extended it by Executive Order 13708.
“PCAST which advises the President on Science, technology and innovation is composed of distinguished individuals from industry, education and research institutions and other organizations outside the Federal Government. PCAST continues to exist since its establishment by Executive Order.
“It is not so much about government telling the people what it wants to do but more about the results from effective implementation of policies which advertise what government is doing.
“On behalf of all Nigerian engineers, I once more sincerely commend the government of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for this bold initiative which is capable of putting Nigeria on the world technological map within a short period of time Engr. Mokuolu stressed.
NSE National President therefore called for synergy among all the stakeholders and implementing agencies of government to ensure that the implementation processes are not subverted.
