₦airaland Forum

Dmthreads:
I need to get something off my chest, because I think a lot of us have normalized something that genuinely shouldn't be normal.

A friend of mine — university graduate, skilled, works in a demanding role — recently told me her monthly salary. I won't put the exact figure here, but let's just say it was embarrassingly low for the amount of work, hours, and stress involved. When I asked why she hasn't pushed back or looked elsewhere, her answer was simple: "at least I have a job."

That sentence alone tells you everything about the power employers hold in this country right now.

"At least you have a job" has become an excuse for exploitation

Because unemployment is so high, employers know they don't have to pay fairly — there's always somebody desperate enough to accept whatever is offered. So salaries stay stagnant, workloads increase, and the moment you complain, you're quietly reminded that ten other people would gladly take your position at half the stress tolerance.

Salary secrecy protects the employer, not the employee

Most Nigerian workplaces treat salary information like classified government intelligence. You're often not even allowed to know what your colleague doing the same job earns. This secrecy benefits nobody but the company — because if people knew how unevenly (and sometimes unfairly) pay is distributed internally, there would be real pushback.

"Experience" is used as payment

Especially for young graduates — companies dangle "exposure" and "experience" as if it should replace an actual living wage. Meanwhile rent, transport, and food don't accept "experience" as payment.

Job hopping gets frowned upon, but staying loyal rarely gets rewarded either

Stay too long without much salary movement, and you're seen as complacent. Leave for better pay elsewhere, and you're labeled "not loyal" or "job-hopper." Employees can't win either way, while employers benefit from both the guilt-tripping and the underpayment.

Skilled workers are undervalued until they leave the country

Funny enough, the same skills that earn "we can't afford to pay you well" here suddenly become worth 5-10x more the moment someone relocates abroad. That alone tells you the issue was never really about the value of the skill — it's about what employers can get away with paying, locally.

This isn't about entitlement, it's about fairness

Working hard should reasonably translate to being paid what your labor is actually worth, not just enough to survive while a company profits comfortably off your underpayment.

I think a big part of shifting this starts with us actually talking about pay more openly instead of treating it as a taboo topic, and being willing to walk away from roles that don't value us — as difficult as that is in this economy.

What's the most underpaid you've ever been for the amount of work you were doing? And do you think Nigerians will ever get more comfortable discussing salaries openly with each other? 👇

You want us to disclose how much we are paid, but you refused to disclose this your friend’s own salary. Even the company’s name is not mentioned. How do job seekers now avoid this company? Unless you are not sure if the company does any of the things you posted here, there is no need hiding their name from us.

Sunic fast food is still owing me my one month salary.
I am boldly calling them out, just as another person has mentioned hotel Magadisho.
When we shy away from calling them out, they tend to get away with things like this.

Put them in the spotlight, let them go viral.
Go to X, Instagram, contact human rights activists. If you cannot get VDM, there are tons of activists and human rights groups both online and offline who will be willing to help you recover whatever payment and compensation you seek.
Utilize the media, this is the era of digital technology. No company should treat you like trash, and you let them go like that. If they refuse to do the right thing, give the online community something to talk about. One way or the other, that money will leave their pocket. Just do your own part.

maxiuc:
Na Wetin make me buy small car for my hustle and I make more than someone earning, 500k monthly

All of una don buy motor full road now hold up wan kih us all... Lols

It's the depressing thing about why most prefer to leave their bank manager jobs to either travel out or enter transport line.

I don't know much about the cause of this very low payment but some friend of mine back in 2019 claimed his Lebanese boss told him some portion of what were supposed to be payment is being paid to someone in the government.

The labour Union protects the employers as they settle them regularly and they don't care if the employees survive.

Today, if you dey stay far from the workplace, it'll be difficult to get employment there. They want those who stay not far as they know what they're offering can't even take care of transport.

E no easy for anybody.

Dmthreads:
I need to get something off my chest, because I think a lot of us have normalized something that genuinely shouldn't be normal.

A friend of mine — university graduate, skilled, works in a demanding role — recently told me her monthly salary. I won't put the exact figure here, but let's just say it was embarrassingly low for the amount of work, hours, and stress involved. When I asked why she hasn't pushed back or looked elsewhere, her answer was simple: "at least I have a job."

That sentence alone tells you everything about the power employers hold in this country right now.

"At least you have a job" has become an excuse for exploitation

Because unemployment is so high, employers know they don't have to pay fairly — there's always somebody desperate enough to accept whatever is offered. So salaries stay stagnant, workloads increase, and the moment you complain, you're quietly reminded that ten other people would gladly take your position at half the stress tolerance.

Salary secrecy protects the employer, not the employee

Most Nigerian workplaces treat salary information like classified government intelligence. You're often not even allowed to know what your colleague doing the same job earns. This secrecy benefits nobody but the company — because if people knew how unevenly (and sometimes unfairly) pay is distributed internally, there would be real pushback.

"Experience" is used as payment

Especially for young graduates — companies dangle "exposure" and "experience" as if it should replace an actual living wage. Meanwhile rent, transport, and food don't accept "experience" as payment.

Job hopping gets frowned upon, but staying loyal rarely gets rewarded either

Stay too long without much salary movement, and you're seen as complacent. Leave for better pay elsewhere, and you're labeled "not loyal" or "job-hopper." Employees can't win either way, while employers benefit from both the guilt-tripping and the underpayment.

Skilled workers are undervalued until they leave the country

Funny enough, the same skills that earn "we can't afford to pay you well" here suddenly become worth 5-10x more the moment someone relocates abroad. That alone tells you the issue was never really about the value of the skill — it's about what employers can get away with paying, locally.

This isn't about entitlement, it's about fairness

Working hard should reasonably translate to being paid what your labor is actually worth, not just enough to survive while a company profits comfortably off your underpayment.

I think a big part of shifting this starts with us actually talking about pay more openly instead of treating it as a taboo topic, and being willing to walk away from roles that don't value us — as difficult as that is in this economy.

What's the most underpaid you've ever been for the amount of work you were doing? And do you think Nigerians will ever get more comfortable discussing salaries openly with each other? 👇

We don't have good labour laws. That's just it.

So why are you hiding the exact figure your friend is being paid; is it the same as your ATM pin? 😕😕

If the private sector can at least use the minimum wage standard to create their salary structure, it will make a bit sense

[quote author=Dmthreads post=140020084]I need to get something off my chest, because I think a lot of us have normalized something that genuinely shouldn't be normal.

A friend of mine — university graduate, skilled, works in a demanding role — recently told me her monthly salary. I won't put the exact figure here, but let's just say it was embarrassingly low for the amount of work, hours, and stress involved. When I asked why she hasn't pushed back or looked elsewhere, her answer was simple: "at least I have a job."

That sentence alone tells you everything about the power employers hold in this country right now.

"At least you have a job" has become an excuse for exploitation

Because unemployment is so high, employers know they don't have to pay fairly — there's always somebody desperate enough to accept whatever is offered. So salaries stay stagnant, workloads increase, and the moment you complain, you're quietly reminded that ten other people would gladly take your position at half the stress tolerance.

Salary secrecy protects the employer, not the employee

Most Nigerian workplaces treat salary information like classified government intelligence. You're often not even allowed to know what your colleague doing the same job earns. This secrecy benefits nobody but the company — because if people knew how unevenly (and sometimes unfairly) pay is distributed internally, there would be real pushback.

"Experience" is used as payment

Especially for young graduates — companies dangle "exposure" and "experience" as if it should replace an actual living wage. Meanwhile rent, transport, and food don't accept "experience" as payment.

Job hopping gets frowned upon, but staying loyal rarely gets rewarded either

Stay too long without much salary movement, and you're seen as complacent. Leave for better pay elsewhere, and you're labeled "not loyal" or "job-hopper." Employees can't win either way, while employers benefit from both the guilt-tripping and the underpayment.

Skilled workers are undervalued until they leave the country

Funny enough, the same skills that earn "we can't afford to pay you well" here suddenly become worth 5-10x more the moment someone relocates abroad. That alone tells you the issue was never really about the value of the skill — it's about what employers can get away with paying, locally.

This isn't about entitlement, it's about fairness

Working hard should reasonably translate to being paid what your labor is actually worth, not just enough to survive while a company profits comfortably off your underpayment.

I think a big part of shifting this starts with us actually talking about pay more openly instead of treating it as a taboo topic, and being willing to walk away from roles that don't value us — as difficult as that is in this economy.

What's the most underpaid you've ever been for the amount of work you were doing? And do you think Nigerians will ever get more comfortable discussing salaries openly with each other? 👇[ some of these employers also going through a lot. My brother has a private school where he pays his teachers not less than #50k/month( rural area). After salary payment, ask him his own profit. He would his name.]

The funny thing about posts like this is that the stingy employers would read it and truly believe it doesnt apply to them because they 'pay their employees well'.

danvon:
The funny thing about posts like this is that the stingy employers would read it and truly believe it doesnt apply to them because they 'pay their employees well'.

That’s what mr HR told me too when I mistakenly joined them. Now that I have mentioned their name, they will know better.
Tag anyone you know in Sunic, they should see this post.

Dmthreads:
I need to get something off my chest, because I think a lot of us have normalized something that genuinely shouldn't be normal.

A friend of mine — university graduate, skilled, works in a demanding role — recently told me her monthly salary. I won't put the exact figure here, but let's just say it was embarrassingly low for the amount of work, hours, and stress involved. When I asked why she hasn't pushed back or looked elsewhere, her answer was simple: "at least I have a job."

That sentence alone tells you everything about the power employers hold in this country right now.

"At least you have a job" has become an excuse for exploitation

Because unemployment is so high, employers know they don't have to pay fairly — there's always somebody desperate enough to accept whatever is offered. So salaries stay stagnant, workloads increase, and the moment you complain, you're quietly reminded that ten other people would gladly take your position at half the stress tolerance.

Salary secrecy protects the employer, not the employee

Most Nigerian workplaces treat salary information like classified government intelligence. You're often not even allowed to know what your colleague doing the same job earns. This secrecy benefits nobody but the company — because if people knew how unevenly (and sometimes unfairly) pay is distributed internally, there would be real pushback.

"Experience" is used as payment

Especially for young graduates — companies dangle "exposure" and "experience" as if it should replace an actual living wage. Meanwhile rent, transport, and food don't accept "experience" as payment.

Job hopping gets frowned upon, but staying loyal rarely gets rewarded either

Stay too long without much salary movement, and you're seen as complacent. Leave for better pay elsewhere, and you're labeled "not loyal" or "job-hopper." Employees can't win either way, while employers benefit from both the guilt-tripping and the underpayment.

Skilled workers are undervalued until they leave the country

Funny enough, the same skills that earn "we can't afford to pay you well" here suddenly become worth 5-10x more the moment someone relocates abroad. That alone tells you the issue was never really about the value of the skill — it's about what employers can get away with paying, locally.

This isn't about entitlement, it's about fairness

Working hard should reasonably translate to being paid what your labor is actually worth, not just enough to survive while a company profits comfortably off your underpayment.

I think a big part of shifting this starts with us actually talking about pay more openly instead of treating it as a taboo topic, and being willing to walk away from roles that don't value us — as difficult as that is in this economy.

What's the most underpaid you've ever been for the amount of work you were doing? And do you think Nigerians will ever get more comfortable discussing salaries openly with each other? 👇

The fact is that economic realities doesn't allow for most employers to pay the kind of pay developed countries pay , their economy can absorb it
In West Africa as poor as the pay in Nigeria is, it's still among the best in the region

Many people are actually underemployed, doing things they are far qualified above for peanuts
But then as She said, at least they are employed
Underemployment is far better than unemployment

louqas:
The fact is that economic realities doesn't allow for most employers to pay the kind of pay developed countries pay , their economy can absorb it
In West Africa as poor as the pay in Nigeria is, it's still among the best in the region

Many people are actually underemployed, doing things they are far qualified above for peanuts
But then as She said, at least they are employed
Underemployment is far better than unemployment

Sometimes it’s better to be idle than be doing rubbish in the name of “at least I have a job “.

Experience most times is a scam. Someone I know has given his youthful years in a company for over 12 years and still gets paid less than the minimum wage which is not even enough.
Longevity does not always translate to competence.
And to think that the job requires a graduate for an O level pay still marvels me. Someone goes for NYSC, collects 77k as allawee, graduates and agrees to work in a company that pays less than his NYSC allawee. That’s a great disservice to yourself if you ask me.
Are you moving forward or taking several steps backwards?

I will only agree with employees who criticise private companies and employers, if those employees have ever tried their own hands running businesses in Nigeria before.

You claim they are making billions and paying you peanuts right?

Set up your own company today, infact just put up a signpost in front of your father's house. I assure that within that week, Local govt officers will come with levies, waste management fee, business premises fees, FIRS, state tax board, council regulators, environmental health officers, agberoes (depending on the state you reside), etc.

If you have a company bus (you will pay for more than 12 stickers, tickets and fees), it still will not deter some agberoes/task force from harassing your driver.

If you are in the health sector- State ministries, federal councils regulating the health field you are practicing will come. Then there many others who will also ask for taxes, levies and fees.

If you own a filling station- they have up to 10 different regulatory fees you must pay to NNPC, NMDPRC, DPR, NUPENG, NIMASA, State bodies etc. Your tanker also has to pay fees to all kinds of collectors on the road- Army, Police, Civil defense, Road safety, Agberoes, etc.


The employee, criticising many employers today most times end up becoming worse than the employers they criticised when they start their own business. I have seen many cases to last me a lifetime.

I belong to a medical Telegram group where people post medical jobs for Nurses, Physicians, Scientists, Pharmacists etc.

They set strict rules on the salary and work schedules you must post as an Employer. If you fail to comply they blacklist your company and kick you out of the group.

Most employees there criticise their employers and Hospitals, Medical laboratories and Pharmacies that post salary ranges they think are too poor.

Now some of these employees who advocate for higher pay later open their own clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, but will go to other platforms to post poorer job pays and mostly end up employing quacks or unqualified people to run their businesses..

The Pharmacist previously advocating for higher pay, opens his pharmacy and employs female Aux Nurses instead of a pharmacist..

The Doctor opens a clinic, and employs a male nurse to act as doctor, and female Aux nurses to act as qualified nurses in order to cut cost.

A Scientist opens his own lab and employ people who read Botany and SLT to man his lab because he cannot afford to pay a licensed Medical Scientist.

The hypocrisy is too much.

Mr Employee open your own business, we want to see how you treat your own staff too.

albacete:
And to think that the job requires a graduate for an O level pay still marvels me. Someone goes for NYSC, collects 77k as allawee, graduates and agrees to work in a company that pays less than his NYSC allawee. That’s a great disservice to yourself if you ask me.
Are you moving forward or taking several steps backwards?

I agree with you, its a great disservice to oneself. I'd been In the situation of underemployment before but I was lucky the company paid minimum wage but the pay wasn't at par with a graduates pay in a bank for instance but I had employment and gained experience working with them
Most people in underemployment are always on the move jobwise , the moment they see a job that pays more than the current one they port immediately and another unemployed get underemployed and the circle continues

Dalohad:
I will only agree with employees who criticise private companies and employers, if those employees have ever tried their own hands running businesses in Nigeria before.

You claim they are making billions and paying you peanuts right?

Set up your own company today, infact just put up a signpost in front of your father's house. I assure that within that week, Local govt officers will come with levies, waste management fee, business premises fees, FIRS, state tax board, council regulators, environmental health agberoes (depending on the state you reside), etc

If you have a company bus (you will pay for more than 12 stickers, tickets and fees)

If you are in the health sector- State ministry, federal councils regulating the health field you are practicing will come.

If you own a filling station- they have up to 10 different regulatory fees you must pay to NNPC, NMDPRC, DPR, NUPENG, NIMASA, State bodies etc. Your tanker also has to pay fees to all kinds of collectors on the road- Army, Police, Civil defense, Road safety, Agberoes, etc.


The employee, criticising many employers today most times end up becoming worse than the employers they criticised when they start their own business. I have seen many cases to last me a lifetime.

I belong to a medical Telegram group where people post medical jobs for Nurses, Physicians, Scientists, Pharmacists etc.

They set the rules on the salary and work schedules you must post as an Employer. If you fail to comply they blacklist your company and kick you out of the group.

Most employees criticise their employers and Hospitals, Medical laboratories and Pharmacies that post salary ranges they think are too poor.

Now some of these employees who advocate for higher pay later open their own clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, but will go to other platforms to post poorer job pays and mostly end up employing quacks or unqualified people to run their businesses..

The Pharmacist previously advocating for higher pay, opens his pharmacy and employ female Aux Nurses instead of a pharmacist..

The Doctor opens a clinic, and employ a male nurse to act as doctor, and female Aux nurses to act as qualified nurses in order to cut cost.

A Scientist opens his own lab and employ people who read Botany and SLT to man his lab because he cannot afford to pay a licensed Medical Scientist.

The hypocrisy is too much.

Mr Employee open your own business, we want to see how you treat your own staff too.

If Mr. Employee gets there as an employer tomorrow and turns around to start treating his staff even worse than the people he criticized, we will still talk about them. The hypocrisy does not erase the fact that workers are treated unfairly in the workplace.

louqas:
I agree with you, its a great disservice to oneself. I'd been In the situation of underemployment before but I was lucky the company paid minimum wage but the pay wasn't at par with a graduates pay in a bank for instance but I had employment and gained experience working with them
Most people in underemployment are always on the move jobwise , the moment they see a job that pays more than the current one they port immediately and another unemployed get underemployed and the circle continues

And the Hiring Manager will try to convince you on why you should stay for a while and build a career there instead of moving from one job to another. If you were not the right candidate for them, you will be shown the door. Why can’t you do the same to them if you find out they are not what they claim to be?
Like you rightly said, you are just there to get experience and when you get it, do not hesitate to look for better offers with the experience you’ve gotten.
When I worked in the bank, some bank staff always try to game the system.
Someone gets promoted from ABO to BO and two months down the line, he ports to another bank and he or she is given an SBO. That’s like 2 promotions in one year. I don’t know if banks in general have fixed that loophole. You cannot be in level 2 in bank A and go to bank B and still be in that level 2. You will be given level 3 once you Join them.
Companies go for who they consider best candidates. You should also consider the best offer from the available options.

Is it korupe. Driving along the express?

maxiuc:
Na Wetin make me buy small car for my hustle and I make more than someone earning, 500k monthly

That bus stuff, what is the difference between stickers and tickets?
And what exactly do agberos(touts) collect from this drivers! Asin the money is for what actually?

Dalohad:
I will only agree with employees who criticise private companies and employers, if those employees have ever tried their own hands running businesses in Nigeria before.

You claim they are making billions and paying you peanuts right?

Set up your own company today, infact just put up a signpost in front of your father's house. I assure that within that week, Local govt officers will come with levies, waste management fee, business premises fees, FIRS, state tax board, council regulators, environmental health officers, agberoes (depending on the state you reside), etc.

If you have a company bus (you will pay for more than 12 stickers, tickets and fees), it still will not deter some agberoes/task force from harassing your driver.

If you are in the health sector- State ministries, federal councils regulating the health field you are practicing will come. Then there many others who will also ask for taxes, levies and fees.

If you own a filling station- they have up to 10 different regulatory fees you must pay to NNPC, NMDPRC, DPR, NUPENG, NIMASA, State bodies etc. Your tanker also has to pay fees to all kinds of collectors on the road- Army, Police, Civil defense, Road safety, Agberoes, etc.


The employee, criticising many employers today most times end up becoming worse than the employers they criticised when they start their own business. I have seen many cases to last me a lifetime.

I belong to a medical Telegram group where people post medical jobs for Nurses, Physicians, Scientists, Pharmacists etc.

They set strict rules on the salary and work schedules you must post as an Employer. If you fail to comply they blacklist your company and kick you out of the group.

Most employees there criticise their employers and Hospitals, Medical laboratories and Pharmacies that post salary ranges they think are too poor.

Now some of these employees who advocate for higher pay later open their own clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, but will go to other platforms to post poorer job pays and mostly end up employing quacks or unqualified people to run their businesses..

The Pharmacist previously advocating for higher pay, opens his pharmacy and employs female Aux Nurses instead of a pharmacist..

The Doctor opens a clinic, and employs a male nurse to act as doctor, and female Aux nurses to act as qualified nurses in order to cut cost.

A Scientist opens his own lab and employ people who read Botany and SLT to man his lab because he cannot afford to pay a licensed Medical Scientist.

The hypocrisy is too much.

Mr Employee open your own business, we want to see how you treat your own staff too.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CHT8Jo9Ha/ watch this

youngsahito:
everything that you said is rubbish, instead of attacking the people in question, you are defending them and blaming Nigerians on voting. Is this the reason why banks hire more contract staff and pay them peanut but they announce billion of naira quarterly as profit? What we need is strong labour law that will check the excesses of private biz owners. Why will you be deducting people salary for lateness and on anything bad that occur in the organization. Govt should enlightened people more on their labour right law if we have any.

jojothaiv:
Sadly enough, most Nigerian commercial banks management are sitting on this table, particularly when it bothers on the so called outsourced/contract staff, those staff do the majority of the work, sweat it out and earn little some banks don't even consider some of them worthy of the bank yearly profit sharing. A reason I don't blame those staff if they are not loyal.

Telecommunications, Supermarkets, FCMGs, Healthcare too are no where better too.

This is a reality across many sectors. When employees feel undervalued, underpaid, and excluded from the rewards of the value they help create, loyalty naturally declines. Respect, fair compensation, and opportunities for growth aren't just employee benefits-they're investments in a more committed and productive workforce.

The heart of man/woman is wicked. Go to the factory. You will even piety people that work there under intense conditions. Despite bad treatment of workers, Nigerians are still working with passion. That is the spirit of Nigerians.

youngsahito:
everything that you said is rubbish, instead of attacking the people in question, you are defending them and blaming Nigerians on voting. Is this the reason why banks hire more contract staff and pay them peanut but they announce billion of naira quarterly as profit? What we need is strong labour law that will check the excesses of private biz owners. Why will you be deducting people salary for lateness and on anything bad that occur in the organization. Govt should enlightened people more on their labour right law if we have any.

Everything he says makes sense. The beginning of what you refer to as " strong labour law" is government. Government itself begins by the electoral process.

Dalohad:
I will only agree with employees who criticise private companies and employers, if those employees have ever tried their own hands running businesses in Nigeria before.

You claim they are making billions and paying you peanuts right?

Set up your own company today, infact just put up a signpost in front of your father's house. I assure that within that week, Local govt officers will come with levies, waste management fee, business premises fees, FIRS, state tax board, council regulators, environmental health officers, agberoes (depending on the state you reside), etc.

If you have a company bus (you will pay for more than 12 stickers, tickets and fees), it still will not deter some agberoes/task force from harassing your driver.

If you are in the health sector- State ministries, federal councils regulating the health field you are practicing will come. Then there many others who will also ask for taxes, levies and fees.

If you own a filling station- they have up to 10 different regulatory fees you must pay to NNPC, NMDPRC, DPR, NUPENG, NIMASA, State bodies etc. Your tanker also has to pay fees to all kinds of collectors on the road- Army, Police, Civil defense, Road safety, Agberoes, etc.


The employee, criticising many employers today most times end up becoming worse than the employers they criticised when they start their own business. I have seen many cases to last me a lifetime.

I belong to a medical Telegram group where people post medical jobs for Nurses, Physicians, Scientists, Pharmacists etc.

They set strict rules on the salary and work schedules you must post as an Employer. If you fail to comply they blacklist your company and kick you out of the group.

Most employees there criticise their employers and Hospitals, Medical laboratories and Pharmacies that post salary ranges they think are too poor.

Now some of these employees who advocate for higher pay later open their own clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, but will go to other platforms to post poorer job pays and mostly end up employing quacks or unqualified people to run their businesses..

The Pharmacist previously advocating for higher pay, opens his pharmacy and employs female Aux Nurses instead of a pharmacist..

The Doctor opens a clinic, and employs a male nurse to act as doctor, and female Aux nurses to act as qualified nurses in order to cut cost.

A Scientist opens his own lab and employ people who read Botany and SLT to man his lab because he cannot afford to pay a licensed Medical Scientist.

The hypocrisy is too much.

Mr Employee open your own business, we want to see how you treat your own staff too.

I get you. Employees sometimes think there are hidden profits. True... but sometimes, they are right!
I worked in a company where I took over an expatriate role. The expat who left took data from factory, MD, Store and Sales and submits a collated report back to MD.
I discovered the company even paid a staff for "Competitor Intelligence", where he poses as a customer to get competitor factory and Sales information. We increased prices when competitors were affected by gas supply, equipment and raw material imports, etc.
Baba, I saw profit.
As in, at such times, we utilise more locally sourced raw materials and adapt them colourfully to our premium brand.
Did pay rise? No.
Were we saving for the rainy day? Not by the lifestyle choices of upper management. I mean, a female IT student even left with a Manager's official car.
How do we balance our experiences now?

Dmthreads:
I need to get something off my chest, because I think a lot of us have normalized something that genuinely shouldn't be normal.

A friend of mine — university graduate, skilled, works in a demanding role — recently told me her monthly salary. I won't put the exact figure here, but let's just say it was embarrassingly low for the amount of work, hours, and stress involved. When I asked why she hasn't pushed back or looked elsewhere, her answer was simple: "at least I have a job."

That sentence alone tells you everything about the power employers hold in this country right now.

"At least you have a job" has become an excuse for exploitation

Because unemployment is so high, employers know they don't have to pay fairly — there's always somebody desperate enough to accept whatever is offered. So salaries stay stagnant, workloads increase, and the moment you complain, you're quietly reminded that ten other people would gladly take your position at half the stress tolerance.

Salary secrecy protects the employer, not the employee

Most Nigerian workplaces treat salary information like classified government intelligence. You're often not even allowed to know what your colleague doing the same job earns. This secrecy benefits nobody but the company — because if people knew how unevenly (and sometimes unfairly) pay is distributed internally, there would be real pushback.

"Experience" is used as payment

Especially for young graduates — companies dangle "exposure" and "experience" as if it should replace an actual living wage. Meanwhile rent, transport, and food don't accept "experience" as payment.

Job hopping gets frowned upon, but staying loyal rarely gets rewarded either

Stay too long without much salary movement, and you're seen as complacent. Leave for better pay elsewhere, and you're labeled "not loyal" or "job-hopper." Employees can't win either way, while employers benefit from both the guilt-tripping and the underpayment.

Skilled workers are undervalued until they leave the country

Funny enough, the same skills that earn "we can't afford to pay you well" here suddenly become worth 5-10x more the moment someone relocates abroad. That alone tells you the issue was never really about the value of the skill — it's about what employers can get away with paying, locally.

This isn't about entitlement, it's about fairness

Working hard should reasonably translate to being paid what your labor is actually worth, not just enough to survive while a company profits comfortably off your underpayment.

I think a big part of shifting this starts with us actually talking about pay more openly instead of treating it as a taboo topic, and being willing to walk away from roles that don't value us — as difficult as that is in this economy.

What's the most underpaid you've ever been for the amount of work you were doing? And do you think Nigerians will ever get more comfortable discussing salaries openly with each other? 👇

Lack of experience makes people to talk trash thinking they are making some points. Before you speak of things you don't know first of all start up a business, employ people like 5 and above, run it for 5years, at least. Them come back for this discussion. Before then good luck in your rant.

albacete:
Sunic, an eatery located in Owerri has a knack for hiring staff without proper documentation. No offer letter or any official means of ID is given to you when you join them. Your job description can be anything and everything.
Any little mistake you make, and your pitiable salary gets the hit. Talk of practically walking on eggshells.
You come to work a minute late and you get debited N500 per day multiplied by the number of times in a month. But when you work overtime, you get N50 per hour as compensation. You heard me right. N50 as overtime pay for 1 hour. In this Tinubu era where the price of fuel is 1300/liter. Then, you come to work an hour late and 5k is taken per number of days you clocked in late and the money is deducted from source when salary is paid. You will be mistaken if you think your daily pay is 5k, that makes them take 5k for an hour’s lateness. You earn less that 2,500 per day (N250 per hour) but you get N5k as penalty for an hour’s lateness. Yes, it’s 10 hours per day, not 8.
It’s not an issue if overtime pay is at least half of the surcharge for lateness, but as greedy as they are, they always take more than they give. You can work 2 hours overtime at least to make up for the lateness but it doesn’t work that way in Sunic.

From the first day you start working there, just know that the odds are stacked against you.

Providing a guarantor is not enough, they will still take what they call security which is the equivalent of a month’s salary (spread in 4 months) until you decide to leave, and you will be extremely lucky to go with it intact (after inflation has taken its own cut). Imagine the HR setting aside your one month salary of say, N50K as security deposit for God knows when and no interest accrues on that amount, even if you work there for donkey years.
Money that will be generating monthly interest in your OPay account is what the HR is keeping and it will be losing value. In 3 years time when you finally get your senses back and decide to try something or somewhere else, your N50K will now be worth N32k, if not less.

Should I talk about the additional job descriptions that they gradually introduce as the days go by? The HR always withholds the full information you need to know concerning your job description and pay. He only tells you about the security after 2 days of training and then make it seem like he forgot to state it initially.

Some of the staff that resigned recently still have their salaries owed them. This fast food, Sunic, is notorious for having a high turnover of staff. People get hired, and in less than 6 months they leave the job. The ones that still work there are the fellows that the company have taken their youth and their juice, so even if they decide to leave, no other company will be willing to hire them. Others are bidding their time, waiting for an opportunity to leave. I can go on and on, but time and space constrains me.
I will make a detailed exposition at the appropriate time. Both here and across all other social media platforms (especially X) What a typical day in the office looks like, how the company steals from staff in the name of surcharges, the scam called off days among other issues.

The pertinent question to ask is this:
Is there a way one can institute an action against them? What agencies are responsible for checking the excesses of this company and others who tow this path? Is it the NLC, Servicom, SERAP or the National Industrial Court?
Evil thrives when men refuse to do the right thing.
I will continue to talk about this until it gets to the appropriate quarters.
The name is Sunic, it’s at Douglas Road, Owerri.

See how you put up the name, address and tries your best to tarnish the image of the organisation. I am sure the case will be different if it belonged to your father. That is how wicked and selective justice found among people who have nothing to lose, those who have never laboured to put up sth jn their entire lives. Not an insult, this is my discovery.

MrSly:
See how you put up the name, address and tries your best to tarnish the image of the organisation. I am sure the case will be different if it belonged to your father. That is how wicked and selective justice found among people who have nothing to lose, those who have never laboured to put up sth jn their entire lives. Not an insult, this is my discovery.

You can call it whatever you like, I have made my point.
Did those things happen while I was there? Yes.
Did I make any of those things up? No.
I have witnesses.
I only stated how they operate and it looks like tarnishing of image to you.
You can forward the thread to their management, let them see it and try their best to refute the claims.
Do you expect me not to disclose their identity so that applicants will keep falling victim? Maybe if they are transparent in their dealings with people working under them, none of these conversations would have come up.