June 18, (THEWILL) – The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has petitioned the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, calling for an urgent review and complete overhaul of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Establishment Act 2022, which it says is causing widespread confusion and crisis within the Nigerian tourism and hospitality industry.
In a letter dated June 16, 2025, and signed by FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung, the federation expressed deep concerns about what it described as the ambiguous and conflicting nature of the provisions within the Act, urging the minister to act swiftly to avert further disruption.
FTAN said the ongoing attempt by NIHOTOUR’s Director General, Dr Abisoye Fagade, to implement the provisions of the Act has already triggered conflict within the industry.
“We, therefore, call on the Honourable Minister to act immediately to save the hospitality and tourism industry from chaos and imminent collapse due to the confusion of objectives, powers and roles of NIHOTOUR. The Act’s provisions are not only conflicting but also unconstitutional”, the letter read in part.
The federation argued that the NIHOTOUR Act, signed into law alongside the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) Act by former President Muhammadu Buhari on February 14, 2022, has resulted in institutional overlap and jurisdictional confusion. It noted that despite stakeholders’ limited involvement in the legislative process, there had been no indication at the time that the Act would generate such operational disorder.
According to FTAN, key sections of the NIHOTOUR Act appear to assign the institute roles that are typically exclusive to either a professional body, a regulatory body, or an academic institution — blurring the lines between these distinct functions.
“Sections 4 and 5 of the Act outline functions and powers that reflect the characteristics of a professional body,” FTAN stated. “For example, Section 4(e) empowers NIHOTOUR to determine the standard of knowledge and skills for professionals, while Section 4(f) mandates it to maintain a register of practitioners — both clear indicators of professional regulatory functions.”
The federation further highlighted that Section 5(3)(c) provides for the discipline and welfare of “members of the Institute” under the Public Service Rules, 2008 — a contradiction, according to FTAN, since professionals are typically governed by their own codes of ethics, not public service guidelines.
“This provision is a glaring example of the legal and structural inconsistencies embedded in the Act. Professional bodies are meant to be independent and governed by professional standards, not by civil service rules.”
FTAN also cited sections 28 to 31, which detail registration processes for hospitality, travel, and tourism professionals, reinforcing the Act’s intent to position NIHOTOUR as a professional body. Yet, elsewhere in the same Act, the institute is also granted authority to set academic standards and approve curricula, roles typically reserved for academic or training institutions.
Additionally, Section 5(1)(a)-(i) grants NIHOTOUR regulatory powers over service quality, assessment of personnel, and the imposition of fees and penalties on practitioners and institutions — reinforcing the argument that the Act overburdens the agency with conflicting responsibilities.
“With this kind of legislative ambiguity, it is inherently impossible for NIHOTOUR to function effectively. The Act is not only unwieldy and irrational but is already proving counterproductive”, FTAN noted.
The federation stressed that the only viable path forward is to revisit the Act comprehensively, limiting NIHOTOUR’s function to a single, clearly defined role — either as a regulator, a professional body, or an academic institution — but not all three.
FTAN warned that if left unchecked, the current structure would continue to stifle the tourism and hospitality sector and jeopardise efforts to develop the industry into a sustainable contributor to Nigeria’s economy.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
