February 19, 2018

The Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

Mr Rex Abitogun, the Chairman of NCS, Abuja chapter gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

“If there is any organisation that should be happy about the executive order, it is the computer society because it has been pushing for the order over the years,’’ he said.

According to him, the local content started in the oil and gas sector; and it is good that it is coming up in the ICT sector.

“We have huge number of talented people who can solve some of our problems with local hands because we are here and we understand our problems and challenges.

“We will be ready to develop solutions based on the problems that exist in our local domain but we need to be given the enabling environment which is what has been missing,’’ he said.

Abitogun said the order was an advantage to the society as it would challenge its members to do more in terms of locally developed software to solve local problems bearing in mind global standard.

He said developing local application in line with global standard was critical, especially in the area of software development.

“In terms of testing, it should be application that should be able to contest with any system anywhere in the world to give the best to the society,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 5, signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

The order is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation toward achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

The president said, ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.’’

The order prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

However, 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 president also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.

According to him, 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.