Operators in the hospitality industry in the country, including hotel owners and tourism operators Friday rejected the September 2 electricity tariff hike by the federal government.
The hospitality operators stressed that there was no consultation with them and wondered why the federal government hurriedly approved the increase as against the first quarter of 2021, which was agreed after the National Assembly intervened. “The effect of the new tariff hike on business and the nation’s economy include business closures. Already, Nigeria hospitality and tourism industry is reeling and groaning under the weight of very high electricity bills, which they are struggling to settle every month.
In his comments, President, Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja, Ezeudeh, warned that hotels may embark on massive lay off which will worsen an already filled labour market. “Some hotels in Abuja pay N57 million every month; some N2 million, N5 million and the least is N500,000, and some of us are not operating fully, while some are closed,” he lamented.