Minister sends tourism corporation boss on compulsory leave

Lagos, Nigeria (eTN) – The Nigerian minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Adetokunboh Kayode, last weekend directed the director general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Olusegun Runsewe, to proceed on compulsory leave. This move comes barely few hours after Chief Runsewe was suspended from office by the minister over alleged insubordination.

This decision was made public via a statement by the special assistant (Media) to the minister, Dr. Taiwo Oladokun. According to him, the order was based on Runsewe’s insensitivity to lay down financial regulations.

He said the minister has written thirteen letters to Chief Runsewe requesting for records of financial dealings of the corporation and the number of tourist entering the country, but never got any reply.

Minister Kayode said Chief Runsewe had opportunities to develop the tourism sector through the private sector, but that he failed to do so. That the tourism sector in Nigeria would have been enjoying e-tourism project designed to promote the country’s tourism to the world, but Chief Runsewe refused to key into the project.

The NTDC boss, the minister said, has not been able to grade hotels in the country, and that the only good hotel in Nigeria is twenty years old and on a five star hotel standard.

He said with effect from last week Friday, the NTDC has no board. The minister is the new board, and a senior director of the corporation will take over in an acting capacity.