President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, signed the Executive Order 11 on the maintenance of national public buildings, ahead of the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Speaking shortly before the signing, Buhari directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) to set up maintenance departments in line with the provisions of the new Executive Order.
He said the order now gives legal backing to Nigeria’s national maintenance policy, following its earlier approval by the FEC, adding that the government had already started utilising the policy to give a face lift to some of its buildings like the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, and 24 others spread across the country.
Buhari said: “On the 4th day of January, 2019, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing presented a policy memorandum to the Federal Executive Council, seeking for the approval of a draft National Public Building Maintenance Policy, which was granted.
“The memorandum highlighted Federal Public Institutions such as Federal Government Colleges, Federal Correctional Facilities, Federal Court Buildings and Federal Secretariats where maintenance and facility management were immediately required and recommended that these should be extended to all buildings owned and or occupied by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
“Some of the expected benefits of the implementation of the approved National Policy on Public Building Maintenance are job creation for skilled and unskilled labour and the expansion of opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, who produce and supply all of the tools and materials required to support maintenance.
Some of the expected benefits of the implementation of the approved National Policy on Public Building Maintenance are job creation for skilled and unskilled labour and the expansion of opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, who produce and supply all of the tools and materials required to support maintenance.
“Since the approval of the policy by the Federal Executive Council, the federal government has consciously started the implementation of maintenance of strategic facilities like the Federal Secretariat Abuja and federal secretariats in 24 states of the federation, where at least 40 people are now daily employed in each of those 24 secretariats.
“The office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has approved the establishment of a department of federal public assets maintenance as a vital step in support of the implementation of this national policy, which is unprecedented in our history and approach to maintenance.
“In order to ensure the fullest implementation and impact of the policy, it is my pleasure to sign this Executive Order that ties maintenance directly to our economy.
“By this Order, I expect Ministries, Departments and Agencies to set out and ensure the operation of their maintenance departments and make necessary procurements for their maintenance in accordance with the provisions of the public procurement act.
“It is my hope that this order will open the door to this treasure of opportunities for young technicians, for artisans, for vendors and suppliers and for small businesses and cottage industries,” he said.
After the signing, President Buhari presided over the cabinet meeting, also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan and a host of other EXCO members.
