House Committee Disappointed with NIHOTOUR’s 2024 Budget Implementation
By Mercy Adi
The House of Representatives Committee on Tourism expressed disappointment over the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism’s (NIHOTOUR) 2024 budget implementation and its failure to generate revenue. This dissatisfaction was voiced during the 2025 budget defense at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Chairman of the committee, Honourable Muhammad Muktar, though not happy with the institutions 2024 performance, called for clemency, he emphasized NIHOTOUR’s crucial role in driving the economy through tourism and hospitality. “NIHOTOUR plays a critical role in enhancing the skills and professionalism of the workforce in the hospitality and tourism industry,” he said. “Through its training programs, it has helped to position Nigeria as a global competitive tourism destination.”
Despite acknowledging NIHOTOUR’s importance, Honourable Billy Osawaro questioned the institution’s deservingness of a 2025 budgetary allocation due to its poor performance and failure to generate internal revenue.However, he suggested giving the newly elected Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, the benefit of the doubt.”The DG has spoken like someone who knows what he is doing and has what it takes to generate revenue for the Institute.
Osawaro criticized the institution’s employees, stating, “They look like they don’t even know what is going on. They have come here just as employees, and they are so content with their salaries, and they want to keep coming here every year to ask for money” but yet they cannot even think and trade for the country.
Similarly, Honourable Kabiru Amadu Maipalace recommended a review of employee portfolios, including principal officers, and suggested reshuffling and transfers to improve performance.
“actually, DG like what he said, the directors cannot act, and that’s the reason why they couldn’t generate Revenue, they are not creative, you just make the industry your own house, just to survive. Secondly, I think we have to recommend the transfer of service.
The Director General, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism’s (NIHOTOUR) Dr. Abisoye Fagade, while resenting the 2025 budget, apologized for the institution’s poor budget implementation and assured the committee of better performance in 2025.
NIHOTOUR is proposing N3,627,573 billion Naira budget, with capital cost pegged at N311,128,616 million naira, overhead at N365,333,606 million naira and personnel cost at 2,951,110,914 billion naira.
The committee adopted the institution N3,627,573 billion Naira budget proposal for further deliberations and scrutiny.
We hope to see a budget solution that focuses on improving training, infrastructure, expanding capacity building initiatives, and incorporating modern technologies to meet industry demands, we are ready to help the institution where necessary to attain full productivity”. Muktar concluded.
