The Minister of State, Science and Technology, Barrister Muhammed Abdullahi, has advised the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to take a cue from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in taking charge of local content with regard to their profession.

The minister was speaking as the guest of honour at the 2019 NSE conference holding in Kano, where he delivered a paper titled, ‘Challenges,

Prospects and Strategies for the implementation of the Presidential Executive Order No 5 for National Infrastructural Development’.

He said “As a lawyer, I will advise the NSE to take a cue from the Nigerian Bar Association, that ab initio protected the Nigerian legal practice’’.

Explaining the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 which was signed by President Buhari on 2nd February, 2018, the minister said it was for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology.

“The Presidential Executive Order No. 5 is a deliberate step by this administration to usher in a new dawn in Nigeria where professionals in all spheres of endeavour will participate and make their contributions for its growth and sustainable development. The

Executive Order framework/bill for implementation is presently awaiting the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“On this note, I must encourage the Nigerian Society of Engineers to maximise the benefits that are provided by the Order so as to take advantage of the margin of preference in national competitive bidding as provided by the Order,” he said.

The Minister said the Executive Order 5, gives the NSE the requisite platform to stamp its authority in terms of the nation’s drive for local contents, hence imploring them to be familiar with it to enable them derive maximum benefit from its provisions.