Put Tourism under the Presidency —Stakeholders at NTDC Bill Public Hearing

Fundamentals discussions germane for the growth of the tourism industry in Nigeria were held, aired, sieved and analysed by the tourism stakeholders who converged on Conference Room 022 of the Senate building under the auspices of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism on Thursday 17, August, 2017.

The convergence of tourism buffs and  development was orchestrated by the members of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism under the effective leadership of Senator Mathew Urhoghide in fulfilment of the constitutional process of passing the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, (NTDA) ACT CAP N137LFN, 2004 9 Repeal and Enactment) Bill , 2017 (SB.429).

This Committee has distinguished itself as having a rare interest in development of tourism by ensuring the planting and entrenching the fundamental legislations necessary for the sector to blossom and for seamless exploration and enhancement of tourism potentialities by the nation and its citizens.

It is on the record that barely eight weeks ago, the same committee under Senator Urhoghide gathered tourism stakeholders  at the same venue for imputation of their  views,  contribution  and input into  NIHOTOUR Bill 2017  which was successfully conducted and applauded  by the stakeholders.

Showing the commitment of the Committee on Culture and Tourism to the Public Hearing of the NTDA Bill 2017,  the attendance by majority of the members of the Committe; Senators .Samuel Anyawu, Rose Okon , Babajide Omoworare, Abubakar Ahmadu Moallahyidi,  despite the fact that the Senate was on recess was commendable.

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in his address pointed out the commitment of the 8th Senate at establishing the ground norm for economic, political, social and cultural development of this country as enshrined in the constitution and as demanded by their political calling of being Senators.

He commended the stride of the committee its approach to the fundamentals needed to establish a well-grounded, globally proactive tourism sector.

Dr Saraki who was represented by the Senator Bala Ibn N Allah, Senate Minority whip disclosed that the NTDA Bill will reflect the intervention of those stakeholders which is the essence of the Public Hearing.

He revealed that the 8th Senate would ensure that the Senate laid down all the necessary legislative foundation needed for tourism to blossom.

Senator Moallahyidi, Vice–Chairman, Committee on Culture and Tourism specially appreciated Dr Saraki for always making a point of duty attending the public hearing of the two tourism parastatals .

He applauded the response of the tourism stakeholders to the two hearings, NIHOTOUR and NTDA which “Shows the resilience and interest of the people in tourism matters”

Senate Tourism Committee Chairman, Senator Urhoghide in his speech pointed out “It is needless to mention that the act which established some of these agencies under our purview made them mere agencies while other exist without any law to back their existence. All we are doing is to provide for those that do not have and amend those acts which do not allow such agencies to operate to meet with set objectives and to generate revenue to do so”.

He revealed “The Nigeria tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), was established through an Act in 1992. The act since its enactment has not gone through any form of review or amendment despite the country having passed through several years of socio-political and economic changes. The Act like most laws made under the military regime is characterised with so many inadequacies and shortcomings. And will be doing the country evil if we do not  review, amend and enact a new set of laws which are in consonance with global trend”

Senator Urhoghide in sequential order itemised countries which were faced with economic reforms and pressed for alternative revenue sources used proper legislation at stoking the economic furnace of tourism; Gambia, Japan  and South Africa.

He pointed out that in each of these countries what Nigeria should borrow and adapt for the enhancement of the tourism sector.

Senator Urhoghide revealed “The only law existing in Nigeria prior to this Bill is the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Act of 1992, which this Bill seeks to repeal and enact. In addition, the subject matter of the Bill is under the legislative purview of the National Assembly. Hence, the Bill does not violate any existing law in Nigeria”.

Opening the deliberation, the Senate President represented by Senator N Allah and other senators took great objection to the absence of the Minister of Information, and Culture, who “failed to send any representation after he was appropriately informed, invited and acknowledged about this Bill which is for a major parastatal under his ministry”.

Although a Deputy Director who claimed to be representing the Minister, had no paper or message delivered than “ My Minister has sent me here to apologise his inability to be here”.

Mr Folorunso Folarin Coker, Director General NTDC, commenced the discussion over the Bill after Senator Urhoghide had set the rules and educated stakeholders on the essence of the Bill.

With an elegance of the poet, Mr Coker appealed to the economic sensibilities and patriotism of the stakeholders.

“We are in the times of great changes”

“The economic order of the past is gradually  becoming invalid , slow in operation,  passive and skewed against the tide of ultra fast, hi-net, e-net  financial and economic globalisation templates.

“We cannot continue to toe the old path of doing tourism business via the old order

“The old order is fastened and aided by old statutes, order, laws which bear no relevance, and of obsolete, antiquated, mismatched   with the dictate of modern technology.

“The new order though respect the ancient and traditional immeasurable heritage  sites, museums, wonderful  falls , eco- caves, wonders of the worlds, beaches, geographical, but need to entwine and align with the refreshing breath of modern templates of doing business.

“We must unshackled the old order if at all we honestly desire to liberate the tourism sector and goad it to perform its roles of empowerment, wealth stimulation, capital  mobilisation, revenue generation and  development.

“All these cannot be achieved if the business of tourism is being done with the guidelines of the old order.

“Hence, fate has put us in this position, this day so that we can collectively untangle  those shackles  which in the old time  were considered as lubricators, but are now burdens and  debilitating yoke.

“Let us collectively shun our present situations and personal posturing by embracing an altruistic perspective of advocating the best for the tourism sector.

“It is not about me as the Director–General of NTDC today with its expiry term, it is not about the Senate or members of the Senate Committee with definitive tenure, but it is about the economy of this country. It is about the image of this country. It is about making the sector decent, neat, alluring, and attractive for investors and investment and for you the stakeholders and practitioners.

“It is all about having a tourism sector which all of us can be proud of and happy to sell.

“It is about the practitioners and the market getting the best of each other.

“It is about the present economy and the future prosperity.

It is about you, me, the nation and our future.

I enjoin you to support the Bill”.

These thought provoking and soul moving philosophical words of Mr Folorunso Coker endeared the Bill to the stakeholders who despite the ban that there should be no clapping applauded the robust sense of duty and deep thinking demonstrated by him.

Mrs Chika Balogun, Director–General, NIHOTOUR, in her submission said she had no objection to the Bill. She commended the Senate particularly the Senate Committee of Culture and Tourism for its stride at moving the sector forward.

She pointed out some sections of the Bill which she thought need proper sieving to avoid conflict of interest and cross functioning.

Others who made submission were the Director–General, National Council for Museum and Monuments (MCMM), Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja, HOFA,MD, Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Institute of Tourism Professional (ITP), National association of Travel agencies (NANTA), National Association of Tour Operators, Nigeria Standard Organisation (NSO), and  private individuals.

Four major parts of the Bill were spotted, Regulation, Membership of the Board of Governing Board, and Sources of Funding of the Authority, Operation of Tour Company.

All these were clinically examined, sieved and peer comparison were made to and agreed that the Bill was not out of the tune in some of these areas of controversies going by countries which are today raking in fortunes out of tourism.

The Senate  Public Hearing  of the Bill for an Act on Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, Act Cap N137, LFN, 2004 (REPEAL AND ENACTMENT 0 Bill, 2017 (SB.429) came to an end with the stakeholders calling on the Federal Government to remove Tourism from the Ministry of Information and make it a full Ministry like in other countries and at best a  Department under the Presidency.

According to many speakers “This is the only way this sector could get the necessary attention”.