₦airaland Forum

The numbers I used in my example were obviously made up and it was to show you how absurd increasing the salary by 1333% is.

I think you’re trying to say that the salary increment will be graduated? Can you relate the numbers in your example to the present salary structure?

For example,

Present Salary New salary Rate
7500          100,000 1333%


Nigeria’s GDP per capita is $2400 (~NGN 360K), how do you expect her to fund the new salary structure? Where exactly is the money going to come from?

What you should be advocating for is a modest increase to the minimum wage to raise the standard of living of those at the bottom, as long as the govt can afford it. Modest increment could be something like an initial hike of 30% with another rate pegged to inflation. This way, year after year, their purchasing power will not decrease.

But the question of affordability still needs to be answered.

Ok, let’s assume that the salary is re-distributed. At that current rate, here’s what the salary structure will look like for civil servants.

Old Salary             New Salary
NGN 7,500.00     NGN 99,975.00
NGN 50,000.00   NGN 666,500.00
NGN 70,000.00   NGN 933,100.00
NGN 100,000.00 NGN 1,333,000.00
NGN 120,000.00 NGN 1,599,600.00
NGN 150,000.00 NGN 1,999,500.00
NGN 200,000.00 NGN 2,666,000.00
NGN 225,000.00 NGN 2,999,250.00
NGN 250,000.00 NGN 3,332,500.00
NGN 300,000.00 NGN 3,999,000.00
NGN 350,000.00 NGN 4,665,500.00
NGN 500,000.00 NGN 6,665,000.00
NGN 1,000,000.00 NGN 13,330,000.00

KnowAll, you’re letting your emotions get the best of you; stop shooting from the hip. What you’re referring to is the purchasing power of people back then, which has little ir nothing to do with giving 70% of the population a 1333% raise.

Here are a couple of questions for you to ponder:
1. If countries are in charge of printing their own currency, why can’t they simply just print enough money to make each of their citizens billionaires?
2. Why is the exchange rate of naira 150+ to 1 dollar? Why can’t the Nigerian government just make it 1 to 1 or why is it not 1 to 1?

Find the answers to the above questions, and you will understand why you cannot just pump cash into the economy without “thinking.”

KnowAll:
I disagree with u, do u know how much the FG has spent on all this Yaradua sickness adventure, Hotel bills for pilots and the governors  going back and forth, I bet if it is not up to half of or even more than what the Federal Civil Servants total salaries I would be susprise.

No doubt they spent half of the treasury to save the president but that’s not the issue at hand. Can you explain how you can justify such a salary increase? What exactly will the civil servants be doing differently from what they did before?

Further, if the civil servants get such an increment, don’t you think the people that shop in the same market as them will suffer the effects?

Here’s how the scenario will play out:

Car dealer normally sells his allocation of 10 cars per month. Civil servants gets new raise and decides to finally buy cars they’ve been longing for. With cash in hand, they go to the dealer and clear out his lot in less than a week. For the remaining three weeks, the car dealer’s lot remained empty (demand is now greater than supply). The following month, the car dealer now knows that there is great demand for his cars, so he increased the price 50%.

Cab driver is in need of a new car. Got a loan from a bank and buys a car from car dealer for a 50% premium over last month’s price. Since he has to make profit and pay back the loan, he raises his fares 50%.

Trader normally takes a cab from his farm to the market. Trader is forced to pay a 50% increase in transportation cost. Since trader also has to turn profit, he raises his price 50%.

Car dealer’s wife goes to the market to shop and complains to the car dealer that she needs 50% more than was given last month due to price hike. Car dealer obliges but also raised his selling price because the cars are still flying off his lot.

This whole cycle will continue until demand equals supply or when supply is greater than demand. That occurs when people can no longer afford to pay the higher prices and refuse to buy the dealer’s cars.

Economics 101 – Demand vs. Supply as it relates to inflation.

PS: I’ve never taken an economic class:-)

I think what they should demand is a cost-of-living increase so that their purchasing power raise with inflation.

Even ignoring where the money will come from, what do they think will happen when salaries get increased 1333%? Hyperinflation!

Don’t they think everybody else will want their own share of the increment? I find puzzling that leaders like that are provided a platform and audience to spew their senseless thoughts.

I spoke to someone who said that the median starting salary range is 30k - 70k. Is the person way off or close?

I think visionaries/dreamers/entrepreneurs need to get exposure to the western world so as not to re-invent the wheel and better understand what is possible. Even the brightest minds of our age will have the world to gain if they don’t have to start from scratch.

In concurring with SixoNine, going to the west should be a means to an end but “end” in this case refers to being a catalyst for a better Nigeria by implementing a “Nigerian version” of what you've learned. In other words, “you” need to go back home to develop Nigeria.

I've always thought of each one of us as pieces to a puzzle. We all have a part to play to make the masterpiece complete. Those opportuned to understand the western world needs their Nigerian counterparts to come up with solutions that work in Nigeria.

I’m trying to open a business office in Lagos. What is a reasonable salary for a computer literate office assistant/receptionist? I envision a salary structure that rewards the employee based on the customer’s satisfaction. The customer survey will be carried out by a third party after completion of transaction.

So, how much is reasonable?

Thanks!

Cap28, here's a Nigerian that's making global tides despite the "r" word. He's the Chairman of the investment firm that acquired Gatwick Airport.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/feb/17/209.html

http://www.global-infra.com/adebayo.html

Cap28, all I’ve been saying all along is, Nigerians are naturally resilient and it is not in our nature to simply quit even when faced with racism. I’ve come to accept that some of the people I meet will not like me “just because…” but that’s not going to stop me from reaching my goals. Take it from someone who started working as a cashier for minimum wage, coupling a positive disposition with hard work and persistence is a recipe for success. As long as God is willing and one has good health, the sky should be the limit. Now go out there and get yours!

cap28:
Wallie you know something, your mentality and outlook reminds me of the way whites relate to  blacks when they feel that their privileged position in society is being threatened -  they refuse to accept or beleive that blacks  are capable of being anything other than the stereotypical image that their media portrays us to be - in your case, i think that you have been told time and time again that you are not up to scratch and dutifully you have given in to that beleif and assumed a position of inferiority which you have been  told is all that your kind merits.

Cap28, I guess calling truce is not your thing, huh? I’m getting tired o but I’ll take the bait one more time:-) I don’t know you and I’m sure you also don’t know anything about me. Well, here’s an insight, I tell people they “are not up to scratch” not the other way around.

cap28:
- wallie you are a victim of this school of thought, you have convinced yourself that whites are superior to you and unquestioningly you accept and imbibe every negative stereotype aimed at undermining and destroying your self confidence.  In order to cope with this racist treatment you project this same treatment outward onto your fellow blacks hence your unwillingness to believe that i could actually be capable of having the required experience for the job, i understand why you do this - you do it  in order to validate yourself and make yourself seem powerful in a white supremacist world where you are powerless.

I don’t even know where to start, so I won’t. So far, you’ve managed to deflect my questions with your ad hominem attacks. Does that mean you’re not answering my questions?

cap28:
im sorry to burst your bubble but yes i draft commercial contracts and i negotiate with blue chip clients - hope this won't give you sleepless nights lol

Does your contract look anything like your posts/writings? I sure hope not because that would explain why you got fired.

cap28:
very true - but i dont need to pad out my own resume as my ability and track record speaks for itself, by the way most law firms and inhouse legal departments recruit by way of rigorous testing in order to determine knowledge of the law,  advocacy, drafting and research skills.  i can assure you that no employer will take the chance of employing you purely on face value without testing your ability.

Omo naija!!!! You done cram the answer to the whole test…hmmm!!! I bet you crammed the whole Ababio too? Jk Assuming arguendo that you are indeed qualified, could the problem be that you don’t get along with your co-workers? Could you be that person that everybody avoids like a plague?

cap28:
hmm - by "up here" i presume you mean cloud cuckoo land because thats the only place someone with your level of reasoning can realistically be - i have known numerous black people who are high acheivers who still acknowledge that the odds are weighted heavily against blacks in this profession, these are people who have made enough money not to bother with those who are still struggling and yet they speak out - whereas people like you who i suspect are one pay check away from poverty deceive themselves into thinking they are at the top of their game.

No, your presumption is wrong!! You need more training to bait me with a changed issue. Who said odds are not weighed against black people? But just because the odds are stacked against you doesn’t mean you throw your hands up at the slightest resistance or does it? In this world, nothing of worth is given for free, you have to fight for what you deserve.

cap28:
well you shouldnt as no  competent lawyer worthy of his fee would ever admit that they use legalese to "confuse" the other party - im beginning to gain some insight into your level of competence.

Cap28, you need to up your level an order of magnitude to be able to judge me.

cap28:
i dont have a problem accepting that some people are better at the job than i am, but i do have a problem accepting that someone who did not attend a law school in the uk and had no previous uk practical experience be given the opportunity to learn on the job, the option to leave and return to that same job if they so desire and be given unlimited opportunities for promotion and career advancement where these same options were not offered to a black lawyer who trained and qualified in the UK.

Cap28, did you take any legal reasoning courses and passed? Just because you’re black and went to school in UK means you’re better? Maybe you should try letting your reasoning support your conclusion. Looks like apples and agbalumo to me:-)

cap28:
im actually glad that you listed these universites - one thing you should ask yourself is this - how many ordinary people can afford to attend those institutions?

i dont know what obtains in the us but im pretty sure its similar to here but 80% of oxbridge graduates come from wealthy and affluent families, many of whom go on to run major corporations or participate at high levels within politics.

I asked myself the question you asked but came up with a different answer. In the US, there’s something called financial aid and scholarship. Most people that get admitted to those schools are on some type of financial aid or scholarship. I didn’t pay a penny in tuition out of pocket while in school.

cap28:
what you have failed to understand is that elite institutions maintain and consolidate a class system, which ensures that only the rich get to run and control the lives of the rest of us.  why is it that most major corporations wont look at your cv if you didnt attend a so called elite instititution, could it be because they want to ensure that certain people perhaps from the wrong side of the tracks are never allowed into their elitist club?

Before you go off the deep end with your theory about UFOs and Area 51, here’s a different perspective you might wanna consider. Could it be that companies look for elite institutions on your resume as a sign that you are brilliant enough to get into that institution? Further, in the Legal field, law firms use associates elite institutions to justify their exorbitant hourly rate. Look up the top US firms and you’ll notice that most of their associates are from the top schools. By the way, fees charged to the client also reflects in the starting salary of $160k for fresh associates out of law school with zero experience.

cap28:
are you under the misapprehension that race is  not at the forefront of peoples minds when selecting a candidate - especially a presidential candidate?  how come obama could not win by a landslide, and why did he not win in any of the southern states - you make me laugh

Your level and way of reasoning scares the hell out of me! “It is better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” I don tire o; you're taking up too much of my free time!

cap28:
Wallie let me repeat the statement that i made in my earlier post - I HAVE OVER FIVE YEARS PRACTICAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE -

I am not some greehorn fresh out of law school okay - please learn to read and understand sentences before you respond.

Understood. You have five years of legal experience but doing what exactly? Was your 5-year experience directly related to what you were hired for? It is possible to have years of experience as a paralegal (legal secretary) but that experience doesn't necessary mean you will have the wherewithal to fly solo.

cap28:
the organisation that i currently work for invested nothing in training me , as a matter of fact i came in with useful experience which they benefited from as i was responsible for training  other junior members of the team.

Interesting. Every job is unique with its own peculiarity and nuances. I sure would hope that you would have some sort of experience that will benefit them.

cap28:
can't you? then you obviously havent heard of the phrase  workplace discrimination.

do you work in an office or are you still serving burgers and fries in mcdonalds?

I’ve never served burger and fries but I’ve worked as a cashier once, thanks for asking!

cap28:
nice try - trust me if i couldnt do the job, i would never have been given the opportunity to get anywhere near a govt organisation let alone obtain over 5 years experience in areas ranging from commercial property, town planning and commercial contracts.  Wallie i know what your problem is its what nigeria's succinctly refer to as "bad belle" people like you hate to see others doing better than them and like crabs in a barrel love nothing better than to tear others down.

Quite contrary Cap28; It is possible to get hired on a padded resume and getting fired later on for not meeting the “requirements” of the job. The five years of experience you keep referring to, was that from doing substantive work or doing document review? How many contracts have you actually written on your own?

The only bad belle I have was from eating asaro earlier. Without bragging, it is kind of hard for me to pull people down because it is kinda lonely up here. I have nothing against you Cap28, I don’t even know you; all I’m saying is that blaming others for your inadequacies will not get you far in life.

cap28:
you state that my writings and posts are carefree - you've completely lost me there as i have no idea what you are wittering on about, perhaps you are wondering why i do not express myself using bogus, unintelligible phrases and employing the use of ungrammatical english in order to impress the likes of you.  i dont know what sort of law school you attended but my tutors always impressed upon on us the need for succinctness and brevity.  i understand that many nigerians love nothing better than expressing themselves using impenetrable legalese which serves no useful purpose other than to confuse and distort the true meaning of what they are trying to get across to their audience.

I take this as a compliment! Unlike the British, Americans don’t use big words to communicate. I guess I must still have some Naija education left in me. I feel you on the legalese stuff though, I sometimes write to confuse the other party when the facts or the law are not on my side☺

cap28:
i think it is unbelievably presumptuous of you to make the above statement, you know nothing about me and for all you know i may have acquired my entire education in nigeria.

There’s nothing wrong in acquiring your education in Nigeria. I went to school with some Nigerians that were already admitted to the Nigerian Bar but came to my school for their LLM and/or JD.

cap28:
just because you have low self esteem and automatically assume that whites are more intelligent than yourself does not mean that i should adopt the same philosophy.  I speak from first hand experience - many nigerians are just as good if not more capable than their white counterparts irrespective of where they study , the american educational system is known for being second rate havent you heard that 40 million US citizens are functional illiterates who can't read or write above fourth grade level?

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/18679/michael-moore-on-citizens-united

Low self esteem? I guess you can call it that, as long as it means not deluding myself. Why is it hard for you to accept that some people are better than you and that they may be white? If you are as intelligent as you claim, you won’t be crying racism. The whites should be the ones complaining of being legally exploited by an African.

cap28:
why does reading this sound as if its coming out of the mouth of some bigoted red neck from Texas and not a full grown nigerian man who should know better.  please see my comments above about the american educational system. 
you are so hung up on this belief that white is always right  that you can't see the wood for the trees.  Did your country (america) not have a grade C president who ignorantly bragged about his mediocrity?

Could the American educational system be better? Sure. But that doesn’t mean it is not one of the best in the world. Below are the list of the top 200 universities in the world and the list of Nobel price winners by country. Do you have any other measuring stick?

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/worlds-best-universities/2009/10/20/worlds-best-universities-top-200

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_country

cap28:
now i know for sure that you feel inferior to whites, whats wrong with having an accent, does arnold schwarzennegger not have an accent - did that derail his political career?
as long as you speak grammatical and intelligible english why should having an accent be a hindrance. Listen pal your arguments are pathetic and they dont stack up - the issue is not about accent - its about race okay, if accents havent hindered the success of eastern europeans, japanese and chinese people why should they hinder blacks.

Hmm, Arnold must be a regular Joe Blow to have an accent and control the 7th largest economy in the world. I guess being a movie star had nothing to do with it. There’s not wrong in having an accent that is comprehensible. My reference to “accent” was to point out that it could be a hindrance if you speak English like ara oke and you’re trying to communicate with a client that’s billed $600 per hour.

cap28:
there you go again getting all delusional on me.  Obama is not your run of the mill black person - first of all he did not have the kind of upbringing that many blacks in america have, he was raised mainly by whites and therefore inculcated a white perspective and outlook, he also attended elite institutions  from primary level right up to post graduate level.  do you know of many blacks who have this sort of background?  it was no coincidence that he was groomed and selected for the position that he currently occupies.  do you think some ordinary black guy who attended state funded institutions would ever get anywhere near a senate seat let alone the presidency.  Not only was Obama's academic and personal background crucial to his selection but even the way he looked - whites like blacks who are not too black (if you catch my drift) i suggest you google alan keyes another aspiring black candidate who was deemed unsuitable by the powers that be for the simple reason that he came across as too african american in appearance.

Obama groomed and selected? Ok. Alan Keyes, are you kidding me? I bet you are one of those that choose their candidates based on race?

Going to college is more than just about reading your books and getting good grades, it is about learning how to think independently based on information available to you.

I sincerely apologize for singling you out in a public forum and forcing you to defend yourself. My apologies!

I don’t mean to call you out Cap28 but have you ever considered that there might be other factors involved in not keeping you on? Do you know that a new employee doing substantive work usually takes about 5 months or longer to get trained? Why would a profit seeking company squander 5 months of pay?

I find it difficult to understand how a business can justify terminating an employee that provides quality work in favor of another employee with unknown work ethic.

Could it be that your performance is not up to par? What kind of law do you practice? I ask because your writings/posts seems carefree and that’s just putting it politely. Could your posts provide a glimpse into your work product?

Like you, I went to college, grad school and law school here but I won’t delude myself saying some whites are not better than me. If you think you’re the best, what was your class rank in law school? Is it not conceivable that people who out-rank you in class will have a higher probability of getting the same job, if everything else was equal?

With regards to the racism issue, it is true that it still exists; however, black people are quick to point to racism even when they can’t compete based on merit. People claim to have college degrees, but how well did they do while in college? Is the degree of comparable standard with that of foreign institutions? Can they write a grammatically correct coherent substantive memo?

Blacks came along way and having an accent definitely compounds the problem. But an African that can compete with their white counterpart on every measurable merit will always find a befitting job even if some doors get slammed in his face due to racism.   

President Obama is a perfect example of racism not being able to hold a willing qualified Black person down.

I don’t really have much substantive stuff to add except that there’s nothing wrong in earning an honest living even if it means cleaning toilets or flipping burgers. I think the key is, whatever your hustle is, think big!

I personally know someone that worked as an assistant manager at McDonalds and ended up saving almost $100K in a few Years, although he worked over 80 hrs per week. He then quit the McDonalds job to open a restaurant and a kiosk making and serving pastry but he lost both businesses due inexperience/knowledge and being cheap. When he bought the businesses, he failed to contact a lawyer or someone with business acumen to do due diligence and he ended up buying places with leases that were expiring. With his luck, the landlord refused to renew the lease to the restaurant and the school campus where the kiosk was located closed.  He recently just opened another restaurant.

Also, there’s nothing wrong in cleaning toilets or offices, as long as you have an exit strategy to better yourself. But bettering yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you have to switch to a different industry or go to school, it could be as simple as owning your own cleaning service. Here’s a cleaning service that’s worth millions and even offers franchises http://www.merrymaids.com/

Further, I don’t know about the UK but here in the US, artisans charged a sh*t load of money. My mechanic charges a little over $100 per hour.

A few months ago, I had a small leak from one of the pipes in my ceiling. When I called the plumber, he charged me $250 just for coming out to see and maybe fix it. To fix it, he had to cut a hole in my ceiling. After fixing it, he said I had to call somebody else to fix the hole he cut into the ceiling. When I called the person, he wanted to charge me another $200 to fix the book-sized hole; I told him that I would take my chances fixing it myself.

Here’s another anecdote.  I requested a quote from a company that finishes basements. He gave me a quote of $71K and this was something that I was quoted $20k about 5 years ago! $71K for stuff I started doing myself but lost interest in finishing it?

It is funny how I yearn so much to have the knowledge that they have! I have almost every type of power tools, wrench sets and books that will allow me to fix almost anything short of rebuilding my car and house. But I lack the requisite knowledge after 21+ years of formal education.

Here’s a bodyshop owner crashing his $1.4 million Bugatti Veyron into a lake. Some said it was publicity stunt to showcase his restoration skills, others said it was insurance fraud. The bottom line is, he’s just a mechanic and he owned a $1.4 million car!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJa32RvAtPE

The crux of my diatribe is that artisans can make very good money and shouldn’t be looked down on. Some of them have specialized knowledge that we all need to function and they politely bend us over when we visit their domain. I think as long as they can step their hustle game up and become an owner rather than just another worker earning minimum wage, they have my respect!

I think it is a result of capitalism at its best. Competition due to the pool of qualified candidates, competitors, and shareholders money is driving these previously dormant companies to find ways to compete. I also believe that a company will always hold on to its irreplaceable talent; otherwise, it will result in direct or indirect loss.

There is nothing wrong with competition, as long as if done fairly, because it brings out the best in us.

With regards to bonuses, there are execs that deserve every single bit of penny they get because they’re that good. If an exec superstar is good enough to bring the company unimaginable deals that will result in obscene money, then he should be compensated. This is akin to paying top dollar to a footballer or a basketball player because he’s that good! Why is it ok for Tiger Woods to make about $100 million yearly because of the publicity he brings to hitting little white balls but it not ok for someone that uses his brain to earn as much if he brings the same quantifiable deal as Tiger’s to his company?

I agree that there are issues with how bonuses are paid because it rewards risky behavior. A better model would be to wait a period of time to evaluate if the deal is as good as it was when first made.

With regards to unions, I think they stifle competition and should be discouraged when possible. Otherwise, how can a company or country sustain the insistent strike of workers that unions cause? I’m not saying that there aren’t legitimate worker related issues to be resolved but a better way needs to be found to address those issues. When unions force a company to make unsustainable concessions, it affects the company’s competitive advantage. Perfect examples of this are GM and Chrysler. How can a company compete when all their R& dollars are used to sustain an over bloated workforce that are making ~x2 what other competing companies are paying when salary and benefits are calculated? This analogy holds true for oil subsidy, teacher strikes, worker strikes, senior management strikes, junior management strikes, and whole country strikes (they might as well).

On the other hand, I think a company that doesn’t invest in its employees is only being shortsighted because a company is only as good as its employees. Again, in a capitalist world with a hint of regulation, competition will take care of such companies because they will fail to compete.

@Lawyer

Can you please tell me the entities that are the same or equivalent to the American entities listed below? Also, do you think the chance of getting a registration through is greater with attaching an Articles of Organization (akin to a certificate) of an American company? I have a few registered Limited Liability Companies here in the US and I would like to register them under the same company names due to the names being website addresses.

1. Corp., Inc. (Corporation, Incorporated): used to denote corporations (public or otherwise).

2. General partnership is a partnership in which all the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the partnership. It is typically created by agreement rather than being created by a public filing.

3. LLC, LC, Ltd. Co. (limited liability company): a form of business whose owners enjoy limited liability, but which is not a corporation. It is a hybrid business entity having certain characteristics of both a corporation and a partnership or sole proprietorship (depending on how many owners there are). The primary characteristic an LLC shares with a corporation is limited liability, and the primary characteristic it shares with a partnership is the availability of pass-through income taxation.

4. LLP (limited liability partnership): a partnership where a partner's liability for the debts of the partnership is limited except in the case of liability for acts of professional negligence or malpractice. This is often the only form of limited partnership allowed for law firms (as opposed to general partnerships).

5. LP (limited partnership): a partnership where at least one partner has unlimited liability and one or more partners have limited liability

6. Sole proprietorship

Thanks in advance!

Wallie

I’m posting this hoping that it furthers an intellectual discourse about the religious crisis currently ongoing in Jos and how to prevent it in the future. I hope this does not turn into thread for hatred or tribalism but in figuring out a better way forward. Please, check your emotions at the door and argue with your head and not your heart.

I’m just as religious as the next man but I don’t believe in imposing my religious views on people or even judging based on religion. My personal believe is that Nigeria will always have religious problems unless we learn to separate “church and state” in the constitution.

I think Americans have it right by trying their utmost best not to mix the government with religion. The American constitution specifically prohibits the government fostering or prohibiting any religion or religious gathering. The forefathers reasoned that as long as the society is secular, fostering any religion will always discriminate against the minorities.

Separating “church and state” doesn’t mean that the society consists of mainly atheists as some would like to believe but is a way of guaranteeing that the government will not favor one religious establishment over the other. After all, the government is supposed to represent the “people” and the “people” consists of various religious beliefs.

The word “church” is meant to denote any religious or non-religious belief including Muslims, Christians, traditional worshippers, and atheists.

I purposely avoided posting this in the Religion section in order to focus on the constitution and not religion.

@Ajanlekoko
I know enough about solar panels to be very dangerous, although, I've not worked on the technical aspects in a professional capacity. I might be able to help.

I don’t think a wife should be submissive to her husbands but she has to treat him with deference. She doesn’t necessarily have to do everything he says, but she has to consider what he said when making her decision. On the other hand, the husband should also respect the wife enough to consider her input.

I think most males play the dominant role due to their inherent genetic makeup. Men create a lot of testosterone naturally, a lot more than a woman, which makes them more aggressive.

But hormone alone doesn’t account for men playing the dominant role; sometimes it’s just how it is. For example, it is hard to pinpoint why some people are natural born leaders and other would rather follow. Also, how do you explain a relationship were the female takes the dominant role? Some people, Type A personality type, just have to be in charge regardless of their gender.

For the most part, yes! Like I heard someone once say, “Nigeria is the only country where you can work extremely hard and not be guaranteed your next meal.”

Things are not exactly as easy as they seem for most immigrants when they travel to a foreign country. Quite a few of them work ungodly amount of hours and still struggle to pay their bills. Very few got by without paying their dues. Obviously, having people you can rely on makes assimilating easier.

I would say working hard in a professional setting guarantees you a middleclass livelihood. The amount of money you will make as a professional is directly proportional to the entry barrier into your chosen field.

Here's a different take to the OP's question -

Do Lagos females still play hard to get or are they more outgoing? I remember a while back, girls would initially say "no" so as not to think they are easy.

Here's an article that I got from Small Business Administration about planing a business.

Is Entrepreneurship For You?
In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions:

•   Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

•   How well do you get along with different personalities? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or consultants. Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

•   How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly - often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

•   Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business? Business ownership can be exciting, but it's also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-¬hour workdays every week?

•   How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization ¬ of financials, inventory, schedules, and production ¬can help you avoid many pitfalls.

•   Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

•   How will the business affect your family? The first few years of business start¬up can be hard on family life. It's important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.


Why Small Businesses Fail
Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees.

Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:
•   Lack of experience
•   Insufficient capital (money)
•   Poor location
•   Poor inventory management
•   Over-investment in fixed assets
•   Poor credit arrangements
•   Personal use of business funds
•   Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:
•   Competition
•   Low sales


More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside
It's true that there are many reasons not to start your own business. But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks.
•   You will be your own boss.
•   Hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than increasing profits for someone else.
•   Earning and growth potential are far greater.
•   A new venture is as exciting as it is risky.
•   Running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

Why Small Businesses Fail
Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees.

Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:
•   Lack of experience
•   Insufficient capital (money)
•   Poor location
•   Poor inventory management
•   Over-investment in fixed assets
•   Poor credit arrangements
•   Personal use of business funds
•   Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:
•   Competition
•   Low sales


More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside
It's true that there are many reasons not to start your own business. But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks.
•   You will be your own boss.
•   Hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than increasing profits for someone else.
•   Earning and growth potential are far greater.
•   A new venture is as exciting as it is risky.
•   Running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

Here's an article that I got from Small Business Administration about planing a business.

Is Entrepreneurship For You?
In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions:

•   Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

•   How well do you get along with different personalities? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or consultants. Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

•   How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly - often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

•   Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business? Business ownership can be exciting, but it's also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-¬hour workdays every week?

•   How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization ¬ of financials, inventory, schedules, and production ¬can help you avoid many pitfalls.

•   Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

•   How will the business affect your family? The first few years of business start¬up can be hard on family life. It's important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.

Continued,

REPOST: Here's an article that I got from Small Business Administration about planing a business.

Is Entrepreneurship For You?
In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions:

•   Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

•   How well do you get along with different personalities? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or consultants. Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

•   How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly - often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

•   Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business? Business ownership can be exciting, but it's also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-¬hour workdays every week?

•   How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization ¬ of financials, inventory, schedules, and production ¬can help you avoid many pitfalls.

•   Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

•   How will the business affect your family? The first few years of business start¬up can be hard on family life. It's important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.


Why Small Businesses Fail
Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees.

Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:
•   Lack of experience
•   Insufficient capital (money)
•   Poor location
•   Poor inventory management
•   Over-investment in fixed assets
•   Poor credit arrangements
•   Personal use of business funds
•   Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:
•   Competition
•   Low sales


More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside
It's true that there are many reasons not to start your own business. But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks.
•   You will be your own boss.
•   Hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than increasing profits for someone else.
•   Earning and growth potential are far greater.
•   A new venture is as exciting as it is risky.
•   Running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

@Moderator - are posts being deleted? My last two posts appeared posted for a second, only to later disappear.

Here's an article I got from SBA.gov,


Is Entrepreneurship For You?
In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions:

Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

How well do you get along with different personalities? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or consultants. Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly - often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business? Business ownership can be exciting, but it's also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-¬hour workdays every week?

How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization ¬ of financials, inventory, schedules, and production ¬can help you avoid many pitfalls.

Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

How will the business affect your family? The first few years of business start¬up can be hard on family life. It's important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.

Why Small Businesses Fail
Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees.

Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:
• Lack of experience
• Insufficient capital (money)
• Poor location
• Poor inventory management
• Over-investment in fixed assets
• Poor credit arrangements
• Personal use of business funds
• Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:
• Competition
• Low sales

More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside
It's true that there are many reasons not to start your own business. But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks.
• You will be your own boss.
• Hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than increasing profits for someone else.
• Earning and growth potential are far greater.
• A new venture is as exciting as it is risky.
• Running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

Here's an article that I got from Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) about planing a business.

Is Entrepreneurship For You?
In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business. Carefully consider each of the following questions:

• Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

• How well do you get along with different personalities? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants, or consultants. Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

• How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly - often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

• Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business? Business ownership can be exciting, but it's also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-¬hour workdays every week?

• How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization ¬ of financials, inventory, schedules, and production ¬can help you avoid many pitfalls.

• Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

• How will the business affect your family? The first few years of business start¬up can be hard on family life. It's important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.


Why Small Businesses Fail
Success in business is never automatic. It isn't strictly based on luck - although a little never hurts. It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organization. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees.

Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years.

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:
• Lack of experience
• Insufficient capital (money)
• Poor location
• Poor inventory management
• Over-investment in fixed assets
• Poor credit arrangements
• Personal use of business funds
• Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:
• Competition
• Low sales


More Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
These figures aren't meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside
It's true that there are many reasons not to start your own business. But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks.
• You will be your own boss.
• Hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than increasing profits for someone else.
• Earning and growth potential are far greater.
• A new venture is as exciting as it is risky.
• Running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

[quote author=Y.M.E link=topic=377236.msg5275253#msg5275253 date=1262962929]I stand corrected on the Nigerian Salary Investment even though I was more about investing your UK salary in the UK. I am yet to hear of that, again, I could be wrong.[/quote]You can definitely invest part of your salary even with responsibilities (mortgages, car notes, family, student loans, savings etc). The key is to spend less than you earn – of course, easier said than done.

I agree with NiajaECash and Ajanlekoko; being successful takes a lot more than just owning a business and nothing is stopping you from "doing it on the side."

To those wondering about what type of business to start, the easiest way is to ask the question “why” and try to find a solution to it. Chances are that whatever issues you have that forms the basis of your “why” question, other people have the same issues. It is easier to ask the question and find a solution in industries that you’re familiar with. I was an engineer and my issues tend to be technical in nature. However, the methodology, if you can call it that, works for any industry.

Here are some examples of how the process works:

Issue: Why can’t I watch a movie in the comfort of my home exactly when I want to watch it?
Solution: Video On Demand

Issue: Why can’t I rewind the soccer match playing on the TV to see the goal I missed while talking?
Solution: Digital video recorder

Issue: Why can’t I figure out exactly where my driver is at this particular moment?
Solution: GPS tracking device that can be monitored on the internet or mobile device.

Issue: Why can’t the police verify my identity (or particulars as it is called) when I get pulled over?
Solution: ***not telling:-)

Issue: Why can’t I figure out my way around Lagos?
Solution: GPS navigation

Issue: Why can’t I eat mango or any other seasonal food all year round (off season)?
Solution: Food processing

All the issues I listed above are some of the business ideas that I started/thought of starting/might be starting. Most of the ideas I listed are now moot because I got to the market too late.

whatawhat:
http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/6/612.html
make una read this -don't be blinded by your hate we should all wake up b/c it is not funny we will definitely be affected if we don't take time

Quote from the link above,
", According to Intelligence sources’ reports gathered on Prison Planet networks and “Forums” of Pravda, a Russian news and analysis medium, Abdulmutallab’s flight from Amsterdam Schiphol to Detroit was said to be a false flag operation carried out by the intelligence tripartite grouping of the United States’ CIA, Israeli’s Foreign Intelligence Agency (Mossad), and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of Indian Inteligence."



Only in Nigeria will an actual newspaper, Tribune, with an established customer base quote a Forum as a news source! People actually pay money to read papers like this being passed off as news?

What people seem to ignore is the fact that the would-be bomber flew out of Nigeria. The guy went through Nigerian airport security and was able to get onto a US bound flight. Even though he had to change flight in Amsterdam, he didn’t go through security over there because he never left the sanitized area.

My question is: Do you think another would-be suicide bomber could originate out of Nigeria and sneak though Nigerian airport? I would say “hell yeah”!

Also, some people mentioned other countries not listed in the “country of interest” list. Can those people mention a single country not on the list that has a government that condones/supports religious fanatics killing innocent people? The truth is that Nigerian government condones the unabated killing of innocent people in the northern part of Nigeria by turning a blind eye or only responding with enough force (curfew) to quell the killings. What ever happened to bringing those responsible for taking human lives to justice? Since when is it ok to kill innocent people with impunity and get away scot-free just because you belong to a particular religion?

To people questioning the US; what do you suggest they do…continue the status quo? Or they should wait until a plane actually gets blown up? Wouldn’t it be better to be proactive rather than reactive?

I’m sure the US will be receptive to Nigeria coming off the list but I’m also sure Nigeria will be given a list of conditions to meet.

All these talks about tit-for-tat or diplomatic row sounds idiotic because Nigeria has no true leverage over the US. I’m sure some will think that Nigeria can flex their muscle by stopping oil export…well; do you understand that oil exporting requires long term contracts? What is Nigeria going to do about the contract? It seems you guys are suggesting that Nigeria is in a financial position to risk a trade war with the richest and most powerful country in the world. Sure.

Furthermore, do you honestly believe that the US doesn’t have a contingency plan for a country that they predict will fail by 2015 if driven down a certain path? You don’t think such a contingency plan will include cessation of drilling in the Niger Delta due to militancy? You don’t think being the richest and most powerful country on earth buys you analysts that does nothing other than to come up with hypotheticals / contingencies of all the countries in the world especially the ones you trade with?

What do you think will happen if the US/UK revokes and denies visa to political office holders and their families? I hope the Nigerian senate follows through on their threat because maybe forcing them and their families to stay in Nigeria will force them to develop the country.

Least I forget, Nigeria is still on autopilot with 150 million people onboard and the stewards/stewardess’ are only helpful as long as autopilot is not disengaged! Somebody please find the pilot before the plane approaches the runway….