Photo credit: Business Metrics
They happen to be the most dedicated, patriotic and committed Nigerians. But their similarity does not end there.
They also happen to be the worst treated Nigerians.
Unfortunately, the future of Nigeria, of any country lies in their overworked hands.
How many broadcast houses, print or electronic, are in the habit of giving their staff all they require to exist, with emphasis on existing?
How many schools, in all levels, do care about the welfare of their teachers?
Yet, we expect miracles from them!
When we talk of ‘brown envelope’, how will a journalist who is being owed their miserly emoluments not be tempted to collect bribe and possibly sell their conscience?
I understand some media owners are even owing reporters more than six months of salaries!
Some schools pay their teachers so low and so terribly late that people tend to wonder why they are still working there. And that’s for those who do pay at all. There are some who could just not be bothered.
Apparently, the proprietors believe they are doing their workers some favour.
Yeah, some favour!
If not, why must workers stay glued to where their own welfare is not taken care of?
The more appalling is that of teachers.
Why?
Agreed some journalists could be lucky on their demand for the famous brown envelope and being given, even if their non-existent reputations are soiled by so doing, what will the teachers be receiving?
Chalk?
I’m even especially sorry for the females amongst these two erstwhile noble professions. It leads the females to basically compromising themselves just to survive.
We have restrained ourselves to salaries, we have not talked about insurance policies, medical issues, scholarship for children or even housing after retirement.
In any case, most of these evils are committed by men to less fortunate men. I’m aware there are regulatory bodies for both professions. Now is the time for them to act.
Photo credit: Opinion Nigeria
While noting that these wicked proprietors might have frustrated labour union activities in their various organizations, I very much believe in the Yoruba saying,
‘Alatise lo nmo atise ara e’ that is,
‘He who feels it knows it’.
In other words, in as much as I recognize the job situation in Nigeria, workers must not continue working for anyone who has a notorious habit of not paying them!
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