₦airaland Forum

This Is Not for Civil Servants: A Mockery Masquerading as Marketing

There is a rising phrase in the marketplace of modern Nigeria. It is not born out of wit or wisdom, but from the dark wells of mockery. “This is not for civil servants.” That is the line, now stamped on car ads, promoted in social media skits, and tucked beneath the lips of the self-satisfied elite. It began with an Abuja car dealer who, in his bid to sell exotic cars, decided to insult an entire class of working Nigerians. What he called a catchy line is in fact a sneer, a slap in the face of decency.

Yesterday, I watched a video that pushed the mockery even further. A young man stood before a pen of rams, advertising them for the upcoming Eid celebration. The prices he mentioned were obscene, starting at 3.5 million naira. For rams, not elephants. With confidence soaked in arrogance, he smiled at the camera and said, “This is not for civil servants.” And the crowd laughed. People reposted the clip. Some added emojis. No one seemed to pause and ask, “What exactly are we laughing at?”

We are laughing at our nurses. At our teachers. At our clerks and secretaries. We are mocking those who keep government schools open, who record files, who monitor roads, who issue documents, who teach children how to write, read and think. We are laughing at those who have served this nation with decades of loyalty and have almost nothing to show for it. It is not funny. It is cruel. It is psychological torment clothed in humour.

More disturbing than the mockery is the mindset it reveals. It reflects a culture obsessed with wealth at all costs. We now measure human worth by bank balance, not by value, virtue, or contribution. It is the reason prices of basic things are bloated intentionally. It is the reason many now sell products not to meet needs but to manufacture social classes. A ram becomes a symbol of status. A price tag becomes a tool of humiliation.

What message are we sending? That honest work leads to disgrace? That civil service is a punishment? That the only way to earn respect is to become a millionaire, no matter how?

The damage is deep. When the phrase “this is not for civil servants” becomes a national joke, we are saying that labour is laughable, that discipline is a mistake, and that only crookedness deserves comfort. If this continues, a time will come when even the air we breathe will be branded, "Not for civil servants."

We must reject this culture. We must remind ourselves that wealth is not virtue. That ridicule is not wit. That every man who earns honestly deserves honour, not pity. The civil servant may not wear designer suits or drive a foreign car, but his place in the nation’s story is sacred. His sweat oils the engine of the country.

We need to stop laughing and start thinking. Above all, we need to start correcting. If civil servants cannot afford this or that, it means many things are wrong. Hopefully, someday soon, they won’t say, “This babe is not for civil servants. He cannot marry her."

FIRDAUS3:
This Is Not for Civil Servants: A Mockery Masquerading as Marketing

There is a rising phrase in the marketplace of modern Nigeria. It is not born out of wit or wisdom, but from the dark wells of mockery. “This is not for civil servants.” That is the line, now stamped on car ads, promoted in social media skits, and tucked beneath the lips of the self-satisfied elite. It began with an Abuja car dealer who, in his bid to sell exotic cars, decided to insult an entire class of working Nigerians. What he called a catchy line is in fact a sneer, a slap in the face of decency.

Yesterday, I watched a video that pushed the mockery even further. A young man stood before a pen of rams, advertising them for the upcoming Eid celebration. The prices he mentioned were obscene, starting at 3.5 million naira. For rams, not elephants. With confidence soaked in arrogance, he smiled at the camera and said, “This is not for civil servants.” And the crowd laughed. People reposted the clip. Some added emojis. No one seemed to pause and ask, “What exactly are we laughing at?”

We are laughing at our nurses. At our teachers. At our clerks and secretaries. We are mocking those who keep government schools open, who record files, who monitor roads, who issue documents, who teach children how to write, read and think. We are laughing at those who have served this nation with decades of loyalty and have almost nothing to show for it. It is not funny. It is cruel. It is psychological torment clothed in humour.

More disturbing than the mockery is the mindset it reveals. It reflects a culture obsessed with wealth at all costs. We now measure human worth by bank balance, not by value, virtue, or contribution. It is the reason prices of basic things are bloated intentionally. It is the reason many now sell products not to meet needs but to manufacture social classes. A ram becomes a symbol of status. A price tag becomes a tool of humiliation.

What message are we sending? That honest work leads to disgrace? That civil service is a punishment? That the only way to earn respect is to become a millionaire, no matter how?

The damage is deep. When the phrase “this is not for civil servants” becomes a national joke, we are saying that labour is laughable, that discipline is a mistake, and that only crookedness deserves comfort. If this continues, a time will come when even the air we breathe will be branded, "Not for civil servants."

We must reject this culture. We must remind ourselves that wealth is not virtue. That ridicule is not wit. That every man who earns honestly deserves honour, not pity. The civil servant may not wear designer suits or drive a foreign car, but his place in the nation’s story is sacred. His sweat oils the engine of the country.

We need to stop laughing and start thinking. Above all, we need to start correcting. If civil servants cannot afford this or that, it means many things are wrong. Hopefully, someday soon, they won’t say, “This babe is not for civil servants. He cannot marry her."

Bebold:
Then civil servants should also see how they can be more productive for themselves.

Having side business can upgrade them too, while demanding better treatment from the government.

Let's not hush certain things not really proper in the society to silence.

The last time I checked, the more advanced a society develops, the lower the number of civil servants.

You can go confirm it.

Don't be comfortable with stipends, the society won't wait for you.

thesicilian:
If it is not a lie, then leave them alone.

Bebold:
Then civil servants should also see how they can be more productive for themselves.

Having side business can upgrade them too, while demanding better treatment from the government.

Let's not hush certain things not really proper in the society to silence.

The last time I checked, the more advanced a society develops, the lower the number of civil servants.

You can go confirm it.

Don't be comfortable with stipends, the society won't wait for you.

Lawalemi:
We are heading to a terrible route under APC

Bebold:
Then civil servants should also see how they can be more productive for themselves.

Having side business can upgrade them too, while demanding better treatment from the government.

Let's not hush certain things not really proper in the society to silence.

The last time I checked, the more advanced a society develops, the lower the number of civil servants.

You can go confirm it.

Don't be comfortable with stipends, the society won't wait for you.

1Alex:
as a civil servant, (federal, I don't know of states) you are only authorised to engage in agriculture as a side business. What of people who are not privileged to do farm work?. If caught doing any other things apart from farming, you will be prosecuted or dismissed or both. That's Nigeria civil service rule.

FIRDAUS3:
This Is Not for Civil Servants: A Mockery Masquerading as Marketing

There is a rising phrase in the marketplace of modern Nigeria. It is not born out of wit or wisdom, but from the dark wells of mockery. “This is not for civil servants.” That is the line, now stamped on car ads, promoted in social media skits, and tucked beneath the lips of the self-satisfied elite. It began with an Abuja car dealer who, in his bid to sell exotic cars, decided to insult an entire class of working Nigerians. What he called a catchy line is in fact a sneer, a slap in the face of decency.

Yesterday, I watched a video that pushed the mockery even further. A young man stood before a pen of rams, advertising them for the upcoming Eid celebration. The prices he mentioned were obscene, starting at 3.5 million naira. For rams, not elephants. With confidence soaked in arrogance, he smiled at the camera and said, “This is not for civil servants.” And the crowd laughed. People reposted the clip. Some added emojis. No one seemed to pause and ask, “What exactly are we laughing at?”

We are laughing at our nurses. At our teachers. At our clerks and secretaries. We are mocking those who keep government schools open, who record files, who monitor roads, who issue documents, who teach children how to write, read and think. We are laughing at those who have served this nation with decades of loyalty and have almost nothing to show for it. It is not funny. It is cruel. It is psychological torment clothed in humour.

More disturbing than the mockery is the mindset it reveals. It reflects a culture obsessed with wealth at all costs. We now measure human worth by bank balance, not by value, virtue, or contribution. It is the reason prices of basic things are bloated intentionally. It is the reason many now sell products not to meet needs but to manufacture social classes. A ram becomes a symbol of status. A price tag becomes a tool of humiliation.

What message are we sending? That honest work leads to disgrace? That civil service is a punishment? That the only way to earn respect is to become a millionaire, no matter how?

The damage is deep. When the phrase “this is not for civil servants” becomes a national joke, we are saying that labour is laughable, that discipline is a mistake, and that only crookedness deserves comfort. If this continues, a time will come when even the air we breathe will be branded, "Not for civil servants."

We must reject this culture. We must remind ourselves that wealth is not virtue. That ridicule is not wit. That every man who earns honestly deserves honour, not pity. The civil servant may not wear designer suits or drive a foreign car, but his place in the nation’s story is sacred. His sweat oils the engine of the country.

We need to stop laughing and start thinking. Above all, we need to start correcting. If civil servants cannot afford this or that, it means many things are wrong. Hopefully, someday soon, they won’t say, “This babe is not for civil servants. He cannot marry her."

Bebold:
Then civil servants should also see how they can be more productive for themselves.

Having side business can upgrade them too, while demanding better treatment from the government.

Let's not hush certain things not really proper in the society to silence.

The last time I checked, the more advanced a society develops, the lower the number of civil servants.

You can go confirm it.

Don't be comfortable with stipends, the society won't wait for you.

meditator:
It is against the law in Nigeria for a civil servant to engage in any other business or work apart from farming and rearing of animals

Gotocourt:
I cheated myself thinking civil service paid job is the best thing after butter and bread. But my eyes is widely open now to manufacturing business 👌🤷

BItt:
They don't want the common man to escape poverty... You gazz use your sense look fr a way a do business o