News Room Editor’s Note: Interviews and other investigations for this story were conducted between August and September 2023, before the recent announcement regarding the planned remodelling of the Hill Station facility.
Reporting by Roselyn Yusuf.
In the heart of Jos, Plateau State, two once-proud hotels – Hill Station Hotel and Plateau Hotel – stand as vestiges of a golden age of luxury and tourism. These establishments, which once symbolised hospitality and comfort, have now become symbols of neglect, mismanagement, and broken promises. Behind their grand facades lies a story of unpaid wages, deteriorating facilities, and a growing sense of desperation among the workers who maintain them.
For many of the employees, the dream of a flourishing hospitality sector in Jos has become a nightmare. Years of promises from management about better pay, renovations, and improvements have yielded nothing. The situation at Hill Station Hotel reached a boiling point in January 2021, when the Junior Staff Union initiated a protest, demanding their right to fair compensation for services rendered. The strike, held within the premises of the hotel, brought the attention of the public to the dire situation facing the workers.
“It has been so tough,” a staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, told JoeyOffAir. “We have families to feed, bills to pay, and no means of survival. We dedicate our time and energy to providing good services to guests, but it seems our efforts are not valued.”
Her words echo the sentiments of many employees who feel abandoned by an employer that has failed to honour its commitments.
A failed journey to hope? Or a Facade
The ownership of Hill Station Hotel is primarily held by the Plateau Investment and Property Development Company (PIPC), which controls 76.21% of the shares. Despite the hotel’s prominent position in the region and its potential to become a major player in the local tourism industry, its future remains uncertain.
In 2017, during the administration of former Governor Simon Lalong, a visit was made to Hill Station Hotel to assess the feasibility of a major renovation project. The plan was to upgrade the facility into a three-star hotel, but nearly eight years later, this proposal remains stalled.
A combination of slow bureaucracy, conflicting interests within the management, and complicated regulatory processes has resulted in a prolonged delay. Furthermore, while there has been expression of interest from various investors – including Benue Investment & Property Company Ltd, Conrad Assets and Resources Limited, and The Mall Investment Company Ltd – these proposals have not translated into meaningful action.
Despite employees’ growing frustration and years of unfulfilled promises, the future of Hill Station Hotel remains uncertain, as the premises gradually transform into a military barracks for Operation Safe Haven personnel. The pivotal question now is whether the ongoing strike will ignite the necessary reforms to revive the hotel, or if it will merely highlight the persistent neglect plaguing the Plateau hospitality industry.
Plateau Hotel: A tale of decay
The situation at Plateau Hotel is no better. For years, complaints about the state of the facility have flooded management’s inbox, yet little has been done to address them. Staff and patrons alike have been subjected to faulty plumbing, peeling paint, and malfunctioning electrical systems.
Our investigation reveals that in 2022, the Plateau State Government allocated ₦6 million for renovations at Plateau Hotel. However, it is unclear if the funds were released. Of the 109 rooms in the hotel, only 22 are functional, and many of them leak when it rains. Water supply within the rooms is irregular, and cleaners are forced to manually fetch water to supply guests.
Godiya, a long-serving food vendor at the Plateau Hotel Rock Garden, said, “We take pride in being part of a historic establishment like the Plateau Hotel, but it’s so sad to witness the lack of care and attention given to its maintenance.”
“It not only affects the guests’ experience but our businesses too. For over four years now, this particular garden hasn’t been running effectively. One of the most difficult moments was the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with the cashless society, business has seriously declined. There’s a very low rate of patronage, mostly from staff members. Before, we saw guests visiting regularly, but now the place is empty,” she added.
What’s next?
The decay of Plateau Hotel is more than just a matter of aesthetics. It is a stark reflection of the deep-rooted issues plaguing the hospitality sector in Jos. The failure to maintain the facility has not only affected its reputation but has also hindered the livelihoods of vendors and small businesses relying on the hotel’s visitors.
The current situation facing Hill Station Hotel and Plateau Hotel highlights the need for systemic changes within the hotel industry in Jos. Clear guidelines for fair compensation, improved maintenance protocols, and regular audits of hotels’ financial standings are vital to safeguard employee rights and maintain the reputation of Jos as a thriving tourist destination.
The outcome of this struggle will not only impact the lives of the hotel staff but also shed light on the urgent need for reforms in the hospitality sector. The narrative of the Hill Station Hotel and the Plateau Hotel serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to come together, find solutions, and ensure that the employees are no longer the silent victims of this industry.
