President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018 signed the Executive Order No.5. The Order was meant to set Nigeria on the path of viable and sustainable economic growth and rapid transformation, using the instruments of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
The Order was also meant to boost planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology for Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said that the Order was the initiative of President Buhari’s administration to boost the economy via STI.
The former minister spoke recently in Abuja, at a sensitisation workshop on the Presidential Executive Order No.5.
The workshop featured the launch of Complaints and Appeal Procedure of the Presidential Order No.5.
Onu clarified that the Order was revolutionary, aimed at mandating procuring entities to give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
He stressed that the Executive Order also involved the engagement of Nigerian professionals in areas where their requisite expertise were available, among others.
“I am happy that already the effect of the Executive Order is being felt in the country, the University of Transportation, Daura, is one of the products of the Executive Order.
“ Also, as a result of the Executive Order, it became necessary to organise both the first and second Strategy Competitiveness Workshop for various regulatory bodies in the country.
“This helped to strengthen the operations of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the good of the country,’’ Onu said.
Experts and stakeholders in the STI are optimistic that if the Executive Order No.5 is fully implemented, it would fast track the country’s industralisation and development.
An article on: “The Implications of the Presidential Executive Order No 5,’’ published by George Etomi and Partners, commended the Federal Government for initiating the Executive Order.
The authors wrote: “This is a policy in the right direction and has laid a proper foundation for an industrial, diversified and self-sustaining economy.’’
They noted that it was a step towards a sustainable path and to a future in which wholesale importation and consumption of foreign technology would be reduced.
They expressed optimism that the implementation of the Order was bound to impact positively on the economy of Nigeria, which also includes promoting the application of local content in STI.
Etomi and Partners said other positive impacts were that the Order would encourage indigenous experts in diaspora to return to Nigeria for public procurement purposes which would lead to improved standards and healthy competition.
They reasoned that preference would be given to Nigerian companies and firms by procuring authorities in the award of contracts.
“Immigration agencies may create a special immigration class for experts in African countries to work and reside in Nigeria so as to share their knowledge with Nigerian experts, which would aid the capacity of the companies and foster inter-Africa relations.’’
They also held that there would be increased production of local materials for building and construction.
Mr Ibiam Ogbuejiofo, the National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order 5(SITOPEO-5) at the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said no civilian president in Nigeria issued an Executive Order before now.
He stressed that an Executive Order should not be confused with Presidential Proclamation or Memorandum or even Federal Government circulars, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG).
According to him, the fundamental difference between the Executive Orders and the Federal Government service-wide circulars is that the circulars do not derive from Section5(1) of the powers of the President in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He clarified that circulars are signed by the SGF and not the President, and that Presidential Memoranda was essentially an Executive Order.
“The difference is that an Executive Memorandum does not have an established process for how the President issues it.
“It may also not be required by law to be published although publication to the general public is necessary in order to have general applicability and legal effect,’’ he said.
Ogbuejiofo explained that with an Executive Order, the President instructs how to work within the parameters of the laws already set by the National Assembly, allowing him to push through policy changes without going through the National Assembly.
On the functionality of the Order, the SITOPEO-5 National Coordinator, said the Executive Order remediation was aimed at the rapid movement of Nigeria to the fourth generation industrial development.
He believes it will improve Nigeria’s productivity and global competitiveness ranking, create enabling environment to mobilise local investment in `Made in Nigeria’ goods and services as well as attract foreign investments.
He said the Order was important for economic empowerment of Nigerian professionals, manufacturers and the youths among others.
Ogbuejiofo stressed that the Federal Government recognised that entrenching STI in everyday life is the key to achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.
“The full implementation of the Executive Order 5 will no doubt boost the realisation of Mr President’s promise to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years,’’ Ogbuejiofo said.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as the News Agency of Nigeria
NAN
