₦airaland Forum

Good morning, Nairalanders.

Something has been bothering me for a while, and I decided to share it here because honestly, I need advice and maybe someone’s experience or idea can help me.

I have been battling with late payment of salary in my present job as a teacher. I earn ₦45,000, and I don't want to keep complaining about it, but as of today, 11th August, I haven't been paid my July salary, even though we closed before the end of July. To make matters worse, we have been told that we may not even receive August salary this month.

I am currently searching for another job, but the salary situation has really been holding me back. In the meantime, I have been doing private lessons to support myself this month.

Last week, I messaged the administrator about my situation, and she forwarded my message to the proprietor. Yesterday, I went for my lesson as usual, and the proprietor told me he wanted to see me.

Honestly, I had hopes. I thought maybe he wanted to discuss my salary or perhaps offer me a solution. But what he eventually asked me was what else I could be doing so that I wouldn't depend on my salary.

He even suggested that I go into recharge card business and said I could make about ₦10 on ₦100.

I won't lie, that conversation really got to me.

I have actually tried different things over the years.

About two years ago, I started creating AI music. I was able to make something from it and use it to support myself. Last year, I also started creating AI videos. At the time, many of the tools I used were free, but most of them are now paid. The free alternatives are often not good enough, and with the cost of data, it has become extremely difficult.

Sometimes, I can barely afford to eat, not to talk of having money to subscribe to AI tools or buy enough data to create consistently.

I have also gone into lending money just to survive, and thankfully, I am currently paying off the last loan. I know I can't continue with that because I didn't even have a stable salary in the first place, yet I kept putting myself under more financial pressure.

I have tried forex too. I was making small changes here and there, but now I can't even fund my account.

I also have an AI Facebook page with about 141k followers, but I have stopped posting completely. The cost of data is one major reason, coupled with the restrictions Facebook has placed on my page.

YouTube is another option. I have been getting good views, but the question is: where do I get the money to fund the content creation?

Last year, I also worked for a lady abroad. She promised to help me start a business when she came to Nigeria, but nothing came out of it.

At one point, she asked me to go to a Chinese depot to collect her goods. It was Boxing Day, and the request was very impromptu. I didn't even know the place, and I explained this to her.

Even when I needed money to handle things for her, she preferred that I use my own money first, promising to refund me and sometimes add ₦5,000. When I refused to continue doing that, she stopped contacting me about the work.

This year, she eventually sent me Glow Live and asked me to join her agency.

The truth is, I love technology. I enjoy working with phones, computers, AI and other technological things. I would also genuinely love to work under a proper company where I can learn, grow and earn a decent income.

The problem is that I am currently an SSCE holder, and I don't know how much that is limiting my opportunities.

People around me are also discouraging me from leaving my present job because they say there are hardly any good jobs where I live. They keep telling me that most of the better opportunities are on the Island and that the stress of travelling or working there may not be worth it.

But honestly, I don't know what to do anymore.

I haven't posted on my YouTube channel or Facebook page for about a week and a half because I'm just overwhelmed with everything.

I am not looking for pity. I genuinely need advice.

If you were in my position, what would you do?

Should I continue managing this teaching job while actively searching for another one?

Should I focus on learning a tech skill and try to get a job in the tech space despite being an SSCE holder?

Should I go back to creating AI content despite the cost?

Or is there another realistic business or skill I can start with little or no capital?

If you have been in a similar situation and eventually found your way out, please share your experience with me.

I would really appreciate genuine advice, job leads, ideas or even suggestions on skills I can learn that can help me become financially independent.

The message in the voice message is that I should collect 20k and then they'll pay me the rest later I had to reject the money. I can't borrow money and be paying half half.

I understand that you're really in a hard place right now. But you have to plan and be smart about it otherwise it will be a continuous cycle of paycheck to paycheck.

1. Advice One

You have to cut off many luxuries (See if it's possible to save #10,000 every month from your salary) + consider reaching out to some parents who think their kids could benefit from weekend classes, then go to their house and teach them.

You can also offer to teach kids how to design with AI - you can charge as little as #5000 per child for 4 sessions. So you can save up for atleast 3 months personal expenses - then you can consider stopping work and focus on all the other things that were bringing you small small money.

Your location may influence the kind of physical job that you can get, but if you're patient, confident and willing to learn what people will pay for, then you can find ways of taking your services directly to customers instead of waiting for a boss to do that and pay you.

Note, freelancing is NOT easy o... Some days are very blessed, and some days are complete drought, so financial management is very important.

Depending on the school you're teaching, if you really carry yourself well and are very good, you can actually get connected with parents who can connect you to opportunities outside your workplace - any job that has you meeting people will usually do this sha - but don't go about begging o.

Truth is, the salary is small, but you have to sew your coat according to your size, a small salary is better than zero, you just have to find a way to get a predictable income that they won't be delaying.

2. Advice Two
Keep your job, but you have to go all in on your Facebook and YouTube channels - you never know when the algorithm will make your content go viral, the big names you're seeing today didn't start big, many of them struggle too. But social media rewards consistency.

You get home from school on or before 5pm right? Now you need to find a way of squeezing 4hrs daily of focused attention on your other side hustle... Look for alternatives to the AI tools that you were using to do the work that was giving you small thing before.

Eat the humble pie, reach out to that woman who used to send you to do things for her, try to explain to her why you wanted her to give you money first before help her pay for things, she could have felt insulted, but you just overlook being right, and get on her food side.

Set a timeline for yourself. What do you want to be OR where do you want to be in 5years time?

If your current company too increase thay salary, in 5yrs time, it'll be #80,000. Will that amount be okay for you? Or is it time to plan an exit for better opportunities through skills.


By the way, your qualifications are secondary if you can communicate the value you bring. I was once working in an association of top professionals as their office secretary, even with my SSCE - my skills that made me an asset to them mattered than the paper.

Thank you dear I really appreciate your advice the problem i have with them is the inability to pay quick it's draining me.
I will definitely put all that you've said to work

Stephen0mozzy:
I understand that you're really in a hard place right now. But you have to plan and be smart about it otherwise it will be a continuous cycle of paycheck to paycheck.

1. Advice One

You have to cut off many luxuries (See if it's possible to save #10,000 every month from your salary) + consider reaching out to some parents who think their kids could benefit from weekend classes, then go to their house and teach them.

You can also offer to teach kids how to design with AI - you can charge as little as #5000 per child for 4 sessions. So you can save up for atleast 3 months personal expenses - then you can consider stopping work and focus on all the other things that were bringing you small small money.

Your location may influence the kind of physical job that you can get, but if you're patient, confident and willing to learn what people will pay for, then you can find ways of taking your services directly to customers instead of waiting for a boss to do that and pay you.

Note, freelancing is NOT easy o... Some days are very blessed, and some days are complete drought, so financial management is very important.

Depending on the school you're teaching, if you really carry yourself well and are very good, you can actually get connected with parents who can connect you to opportunities outside your workplace - any job that has you meeting people will usually do this sha - but don't go about begging o.

Truth is, the salary is small, but you have to sew your coat according to your size, a small salary is better than zero, you just have to find a way to get a predictable income that they won't be delaying.

2. Advice Two
Keep your job, but you have to go all in on your Facebook and YouTube channels - you never know when the algorithm will make your content go viral, the big names you're seeing today didn't start big, many of them struggle too. But social media rewards consistency.

You get home from school on or before 5pm right? Now you need to find a way of squeezing 4hrs daily of focused attention on your other side hustle... Look for alternatives to the AI tools that you were using to do the work that was giving you small thing before.

Eat the humble pie, reach out to that woman who used to send you to do things for her, try to explain to her why you wanted her to give you money first before help her pay for things, she could have felt insulted, but you just overlook being right, and get on her food side.

Set a timeline for yourself. What do you want to be OR where do you want to be in 5years time?

If your current company too increase thay salary, in 5yrs time, it'll be #80,000. Will that amount be okay for you? Or is it time to plan an exit for better opportunities through skills.


By the way, your qualifications are secondary if you can communicate the value you bring. I was once working in an association of top professionals as their office secretary, even with my SSCE - my skills that made me an asset to them mattered than the paper.

Jozilinn:
Thank you dear I really appreciate your advice the problem i have with them is the inability to pay quick it's draining me.
I will definitely put all that you've said to work

have they pay you your salary now

Yes oh after a month and two weeks I got paid and I used it to settle people I'm oweing left right and centre.

Imalwayshorny:
have they pay you your salary now

Stephen0mozzy:
I understand that you're really in a hard place right now. But you have to plan and be smart about it otherwise it will be a continuous cycle of paycheck to paycheck.

1. Advice One

You have to cut off many luxuries (See if it's possible to save #10,000 every month from your salary) + consider reaching out to some parents who think their kids could benefit from weekend classes, then go to their house and teach them.

You can also offer to teach kids how to design with AI - you can charge as little as #5000 per child for 4 sessions. So you can save up for atleast 3 months personal expenses - then you can consider stopping work and focus on all the other things that were bringing you small small money.

Your location may influence the kind of physical job that you can get, but if you're patient, confident and willing to learn what people will pay for, then you can find ways of taking your services directly to customers instead of waiting for a boss to do that and pay you.

Note, freelancing is NOT easy o... Some days are very blessed, and some days are complete drought, so financial management is very important.

Depending on the school you're teaching, if you really carry yourself well and are very good, you can actually get connected with parents who can connect you to opportunities outside your workplace - any job that has you meeting people will usually do this sha - but don't go about begging o.

Truth is, the salary is small, but you have to sew your coat according to your size, a small salary is better than zero, you just have to find a way to get a predictable income that they won't be delaying.

2. Advice Two
Keep your job, but you have to go all in on your Facebook and YouTube channels - you never know when the algorithm will make your content go viral, the big names you're seeing today didn't start big, many of them struggle too. But social media rewards consistency.

You get home from school on or before 5pm right? Now you need to find a way of squeezing 4hrs daily of focused attention on your other side hustle... Look for alternatives to the AI tools that you were using to do the work that was giving you small thing before.

Eat the humble pie, reach out to that woman who used to send you to do things for her, try to explain to her why you wanted her to give you money first before help her pay for things, she could have felt insulted, but you just overlook being right, and get on her food side.

Set a timeline for yourself. What do you want to be OR where do you want to be in 5years time?

If your current company too increase thay salary, in 5yrs time, it'll be #80,000. Will that amount be okay for you? Or is it time to plan an exit for better opportunities through skills.


By the way, your qualifications are secondary if you can communicate the value you bring. I was once working in an association of top professionals as their office secretary, even with my SSCE - my skills that made me an asset to them mattered than the paper.

That's it now my environment is what's drawing me back. I even did lesson during the holidays for a 7 year old the mother said she'll pay 5k... only to pay 3k and start complaining her son said I'm always busy meanwhile he doesn't come to my house... he'll stop midway and go and tell her I said I'm busy. Until she muttered the courage to ask me in front of the kid who couldn't say anything.

No money no money but the entire classrooms were renovated.

I don't know why but I feel like my complaining is already getting too much because I'm tired of complaining. For now I'm focusing on my way out

And you're still working there

Jozilinn:
Yes oh after a month and two weeks I got paid and I used it to settle people I'm oweing left right and centre.

Quit teaching job and do remote work

Jozilinn:
That's it now my environment is what's drawing me back. I even did lesson during the holidays for a 7 year old the mother said she'll pay 5k... only to pay 3k and start complaining her son said I'm always busy meanwhile he doesn't come to my house... he'll stop midway and go and tell her I said I'm busy. Until she muttered the courage to ask me in front of the kid who couldn't say anything.

No money no money but the entire classrooms were renovated.

I don't know why but I feel like my complaining is already getting too much because I'm tired of complaining. For now I'm focusing on my way out

if you're making 5k naira online is better 45k naira for 30days

I have been applying for remote jobs and checking online for recommendations and how to go about it. I pray to her lucky with one soon.

Imalwayshorny:
Quit teaching job and do remote work if you're making 5k naira online is better 45k naira for 30days

Imalwayshorny:
And you're still working there

the work I saw is in island bit the transportation alone is the almost 80k because there's no accommodation and my location is very far. I'm searching for jobs online and offline I will get you posted when I see a good one.