At Gidanka, professionalism is not defined only by what guests experience at the front desk or inside a room. Those moments matter, but they are outcomes, not the foundation. The foundation lies in how the organisation thinks, prepares, and equips its people long before a guest ever arrives.
This was evident in the recent finance and tax education session organised by the Finance Department headed by Mr. Seik, for staff. Coming at a time when Nigeria’s tax framework has undergone its most significant reform in decades, the session was not treated as a formality or a compliance checkbox. It was structured, deliberate, and grounded in clarity, mirroring the same standards that guide Gidanka’s guest-facing operations.
The training walked employees through the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which came into effect in January 2026 and consolidated multiple legacy tax laws into a single modern framework. Staff were guided through what the reforms actually mean in practical terms, cutting through widespread misinformation. Myths around new taxes, deductions from bank accounts, taxation of gifts, remittances, pensions, and minimum wage earners were addressed directly, with facts replacing speculation. This ensured employees were not left navigating national policy changes with assumptions or anxiety.
Beyond theory, the session addressed real impacts on employees across income levels, explaining updated PAYE structures, exemptions for low-income earners, reliefs for middle-income employees, and increased obligations for higher earners. It also clarified shared responsibilities. Employers must deduct, remit, and report correctly. Employees must understand their payslips, maintain valid tax identification, and disclose additional income where applicable. The message was clear. Compliance is not abstract. It is collective.
What stood out was the emphasis on financial discipline and long-term stability, not just statutory compliance. Employees were guided on budgeting frameworks, savings habits, debt management, and realistic investment options within the Nigerian financial system, from money market funds and treasury instruments to equities and REITs. The session positioned financial literacy as a professional competency, not a personal afterthought.
This is where internal professionalism meets external brand promise. The same clarity Gidanka offers guests through thoughtful design, predictable standards, and seamless experiences is extended inward through transparency, education, and preparedness. Staff are not expected to “figure things out.” They are equipped.
That alignment signals brand maturity. It shows an organisation that understands professionalism is holistic. It is operational, financial, and cultural. It exists in how guests are treated and in how employees are informed, protected, and empowered.
At Gidanka, professionalism does not start at the property level. It starts within the system that runs it.
