NIHOTOUR Hits Back at HOMAL Over Allegations of Usurping State Powers

In a significant twist to the ongoing debate around statutory regulation of the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has dismissed claims made by the association of hotel managers in Lagos State that the institute is usurping the powers of state governments.

 In a rejoinder made available to THISDAY, NIHOTOUR described the allegations by Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMAL) as “misleading, unfounded, and legally erroneous.”

The institute maintained that its enabling Act, passed in 2022, is a valid federal law that was enacted after extensive stakeholder engagement and public hearings.

 NIHOTOUR insists that HOMAL lacks the legal standing to declare a federal law unconstitutional, maintaining that only courts of competent jurisdiction have the authority to make such declarations.

 Reiterating commitment to the implementation of the provisions of its enabling Act, the institute noted that it has the responsibility of oversight over various aspects including certification and registration of personnel, assessment and grading of hospitality practitioners, and enforcement of national professional standards in the industry.

 NIHOTOUR also denied HOMAL’s claim that a court order has halted the implementation of the Act, stating that there is no such order or injunction in place.

 The institute, therefore, called on all stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industry to comply with the provisions of the Act, warning that no individual or entity can operate outside the mandate granted by the law.