President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, signed Executive Order 11 on national public buildings maintenance.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing presented a Policy Memorandum to the Federal Executive Council seeking the approval of a Draft National Public Building Maintenance Policy which was granted.
The President, in furtherance of the policy, signed the document, which coincided with the Wednesday’s cabinet meeting holding at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
He ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) to set up maintenance departments in line with the provisions of the new Executive Order.
According to the President, the order gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy, following its earlier approval by the Federal Executive Council.
“In order to ensure the fullest implementation and impact of the policy, it is my pleasure to sign this Executive Order that ties maintenance direct 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,” he said.
President Buhari said the Federal Government had already started making use of the policy to start reconstruction of its buildings like the Federal Secretariat, Abuja and 24 others spread across the country.
“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.
The Network gathered that the policy was meant to set out guidelines for the maintenance of Federal Government Buildings and Assets in accordance with professional standards in order to ensure the protection and lasting utilization of the investments that have been made by way of provision of public infrastructure.
The Pesident is hopeful that the Order will open the door to the treasure of opportunities for young Technicians, for Artisans, for Vendors and Suppliers and for Small Businesses and Cottage Industries.
According to the memorandum,
Government accept that maintenance of public buildings and facility management was not a matter of culture or lack of it.
The memorandum is a conscious economic driver that was required to support the output from the government technical and vocational educational institutions by putting their skills into gainful and rewarding engagement.
