COVID-19: Nigerian hoteliers lament exemption of six states from support fund

Hoteliers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Hoteliers Association (NHA), on Sunday, condemned what it called selective payment and disbursement of the ongoing support fund to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on members.

His Highness, Patrick Anyanwu, the National President of the Nigeria Hotels Association (NHA), during an interview with Daily Independent, expressed displeasure at the uncoordinated, selective payment and exemption of six states in the disbursement of the support funds to members of the association.

Eze Anyanwu, who lauded President Mohammadu Buhari’s kind gesture, approval and release of the support fund for the hotel sector, wondered why six out of the 36 States of the federation were exempted from the payment.

“They have commenced the payment of the second phase of the payment of support fund and exempted six states that included the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.”

“Many workers in the affected states are yet to be paid the three months support fund as promised and paid in other states.”

“This is not beyond what the government can pay to ameliorate the sufferings of workers in the sector and our father in the nation, President Buhari has graciously approved and released the money for the hotel sector,” Eze Anyanwu added.

He listed the states yet to be paid to include Kano, Bauchi, Rivers, Plateau, Kaduna states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

He thanked President Buhari for the kind gesture to extend the support fund to hotel workers and charged him to look into the causes of the delay and exemption of the six states from payment.

Eze Anyanwu urged workers in the affected states to exercise patients as the President addresses the issue. (The Independent)