By Frank Meke.
Senator Ali Ndume now chairs the Senate Committee on the wobbly tourism sector. In a minor reshuffle of senate committees by senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the no nonsense and outspoken former chief wipe of the upper chamber
and the vice chairman of the appropriation committee was moved to the tourism committee, in what is seen by political and national assembly observers as a movement to saberia , a typical dry and colourless committee.
The development is evidently reflective of the sociopolitical and economic ranking of the tourism sector in the country despite government lip service attention and celebration of the industry as a valued sector.
However, the coming of Ndume may potend good tidings for the sector as the Senator known for zero tolerance for malfeasance and unpatriotism, may institute a thorough clean up of the sector and restore its true economic importance.
Senator Ali Ndume may also probe tourism spending of the ministry and its agencies, particularly on tourism education in the past four years.
Stakeholders are excited about the coming of Ndume, whose unputdownable presence may leap frog tourism legislation to national prominence.
President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, ( ftan) Mr Nkereweum Onung stated that the Federation is watching the development and welcomes the senator to the tourism community.
” we are watching the development carefully and will issue a statement soon. We certainly need hardworking senators like the distinguished new Senate committee chairman on tourism and look forward to working with him to better the sector.” Ftan further explained.
