Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says his administration has concluded plans to patronise local engineers in the state to check capital flight.
Akeredolu made this known on Friday in Akure at the Second 2017 Distinguished Engineering Lecture organised by the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).
The lecture entitled, “Power Infrastructure Development as a Panacea for Industrial Revolution in a Change Environment, ” was delivered by Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, said engineers needed to come on board for the people of the state to benefit from their talents.
“The present administration in the state will involve engineers in state projects and if you don’t impress us, we know how to deal with you,” he said.
According to the governor, it is not the responsibility of lawmakers to engage in projects in their constituencies.
He said that lawmakers were only elected to represent their constituencies and make laws that would impact meaningfully on the lives of the people.
Earlier, the National President of NSE, Mr Otis Anyaeji, had called on the state branch to rise up to its responsibility.
The president, who was represented by Mr Kunle Mokunolu, said it was the responsibility of NSE to ensure that every engineer was a stakeholder in the development of the state. Also speaking, the Chairman of NSE, Akure Branch, Mr Oloruntoba Abe, enumerated the contributions of the body to national development. He said the association would not relent in replicating this in the state.
