Workers' Day Celebration: Buhari gets list of expectations from workers

General Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian workers have called on the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to engage local engineers and scientists in development projects that would be executed by the incoming administration.

A cross-section of engineers who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the May Day celebration in Abuja on Friday, canvassed for more patronage of local experts by the incoming governments at both the state and national levels, to ensure speedy economic development.
Mr Umukoro Steve, a branch Chairman of the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, said that the type of opportunities given to foreign expatriates should be given to Nigerians.
He stressed the need to provide the enabling environment for local engineers and scientists to showcase local content so that indigenous technology could grow.
“Most times when we bid for projects, we are turned down; up till now, our documents have piled up in various offices; but if they can give us this opportunity, we can do it.
“Most of these foreigners you see are not better than us; some of them are carpenters in their countries but they will come here as managers and some only know one side of the field.
“It’s not the best for our country; because their colour is white, they will just think he is an expatriate.’’
Mr Ahmed Saleh, a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) stressed that Nigerian engineers were competent and fit to handle any construction jobs, irrespective of the size of such projects.
“In other countries of the world, they provide jobs for their own people, so it is not good for the country to give jobs that should be done by Nigerians to foreigners.
“The government should try to engage the service of Nigerian engineers in any construction project and only employ the service of foreigners for jobs beyond the capacity of indigenous firms.
James Olaoluwa, an engineer, urged the president-elect to push for the speedy passage of the Bill on Development in Engineering Designing in the country.
He said the passage of the bill would enable local engineers to have their names on the list of notable world engineers.
He called on the government to give local engineers a more conducive environment for practice, saying that it would usher in unlimited development.
Mr Saffiyanu Attah, the Public Relations Officer, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), said there was need for the in-coming administration to make policies that would enhance the health sector so as to give Nigerians easy access to medical services.
Attah urged the President-elect to increase the health budget as there were lot of health issues that needs to be funded.
“In respect to this, we are calling on the incoming government that they should kindly look at the NHIS, we have a bill that is in National Assembly.
“If he can help to improve and pass the bill that will help the NHIS to carry all Nigerians along by giving easy access to quality health services.
Mr Marwan Adamu, the National President of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) said that the incoming administration should ensure that the judiciary operates independently like the other arms of government.
Adamu said that it was JUSUN’s expectations that what was due to the Judiciary would be provided.
He said it was his conviction that the new government would allow democracy to be sustained in the country.