Union petitions FG over NTDC DG’s ‘lapses’

By Moses John
Abuja

The Council of the Amalgamated Union of Public Service Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees has filed a petition against the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Ms. Sally Mbanefo, over alleged dwindling fortunes of the organisation.
The Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Council (FCT) Council of the union, Comrade Remi Adediji, in a letter to the NTDC DG, dated October 27, 2014, alleged that the actions and inactions of Mbanefo is gradually leading to the extinction and outright collapse of the nation’s tourism outfit.

Copies of the letter titled “Operation Save the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation from Extinction: The Need for Urgent Salvage” were also sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service of the Federation and the Chairmen of Tourism Committees in both chambers of the National Assembly.
The union said it has observed lapses in the administration of the NTDC under its current DG.
The union said that despite the fact that Mbanefo has been in office for close to two years, she is yet to acquaint the staff of the corporation with her vision and mission for the organisation.
Adedidi said: “This is because most of the international fairs meant yo showcase the image and marketing of the country’s tourism products are either canceled or attended by her and her consultant who she brought, who we believe is not better than the staff of the NTDC by all standards.”
He also accused the DG of having allegedly replaced management meetings with executive committee where she handpicks people without consideration to the statutory management team.

He added: “This is unfamiliar with the Public Service Rule. During her two years in office, no meeting was held with the branch state of national unions. All efforts to meet with her by all the structures of the union proved abortive.”
He also accused her of demonstrating lack of trust for the staff of the corporation, saying that “Mrs Mbanefo is engaged in the use of foul language to heat up the system, including assault, harassment, and high level of humiliation and battery.
“There are also issues of staff being forced to work against the establishment rule. Those provisions of the Public Service Rule on annual leave, maternity leave, sick leave, which are staff rights, are breached with impunity because she considers them a privilege.”

He further noted that there is administrative ineptitude in the corporation.
“The DG’s official medium of communication is through text messages which make accountability or referral difficult, especially on decisions reached.
“This makes files to pile up at her office without being treated. This is a sign of pretense and lack of working experience.”
The union lamented that the future of the tourism industry in the country is being jeopardised as a result of the administrative lapses of the DG.
The secretary said: 2One of the instances is the Appeal Court judgement which ceded hotel registration to the states.
“The expectation of this union is that the DG should convey a tourism stakeholders meeting to chart a new course to stabilise the organisation. The result was the insensitivity of the management to these problems.”
Efforts to contact Mbanefo on these allegations proved abortive as at the time of going to press.