Unpaid Work

[Kim Handsoma 0]

Hi All,

This is my first time posting a topic. I hope everyone is well. I have just became engaged to my fiance 2 months ago. My fiance has always talked about being broke because his company does not pay him. Does anyone know if it's common for people in Nigeria to work a job and not get paid for a few months?

Thanks and God bless

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

In Nigeria many have issues getting paid on a regular basis. Joseph has left a job for not being paid. It is one thing that he tells you of issues in his life. It may be a red flag if he is asking you to send money because of these problems. I think you will find the majority of us have heard of various money problems , along with bad roads, no electricity and terrible traffic. It kind of comes with Nigeria.

[Tunji&Toyin 0]

Yes, my wife is working as a nurse. She has finished the training, but continues to work for the doctor and is doing it for free.

I have heard it to be very common, especially when your working for the government.

[Niel&Femi 0]

My fiance has been through the same. Just hang in there.

Edited September 21, 2008 by Niel&Femi

[Kim Handsoma 0]

He hasn't asked me for any money. I just find it weird because how does he pay bills and buy food if he doesn't get paid...very weird to me. Does it make him less of a man because he doesn't demand payment?

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

Nigerians tend to get by using a communal wallet. If you aren't being paid and are short you ask you brother, neighbor and friend for a little . If you get piad finally you give a little to your friend that isn't being paid. There is nothing like there is here where the employer gets fined for not paying on time. I am not sure if you have visited NIgeria yet but when you see the state of the roads and electricity you will understand. For all the beauty of NIgeria the government infrastructure is terribly broken and corrupt.

[kk_mine 0]

Welcome to vj!

Wow strange that you posted this as he just had an issue with this last weekend. He did not get paid for a job he did and he needed to pay his rent. He did not ask me for any money! I encouraged him and all went well as he paid the rent yesterday.

He called the client but they would not answer. I was so upset as I told him if the client did not have the money he could have used his time/energy working for a client that would have paid him. I was upset as he did the work for free. I asked him could he type up a contract to make sure he gets payment. But he laughed and said baby they will not honor anything like that here.. lol (I tried) I had to remember things are so different there!

He still has not received his pay. I felt that he should not do work for that client anymore, he agreed.

Edited September 22, 2008 by kk_mine

[Tunji&Toyin 0]

Not until I visited Nigeria, and seen how even family will "dupe" you. Did I understand about not receiving payment, many people not being honorable. Is it everybody? No. But it extends throughout.

Example.

My wife is a nurse, and she is working with one lady. Only the two of them are working. She goes and checks her purse during the shift. She finds that her money is missing. She has to tell the head staff person that the lady she was working with stole the money. Eventually they told the girl, she would no longer have a job if she didn't pay my wife back the money. Eventually a week or so later, the money was paid back.

Example.

My mom has been sending money home to complete her house, she was thinking she was going to retire there. Unfortunately, my uncle (my dads brother), has been taking the money and has not used a dime of it to complete the home. When I went home to go and see it. There were no windows, the plumbing had not been finished, and it looked like nearly $20,000 more needed to be put into the home.

Many people there are going through financial problems, those that don't have the mindset to go and work hard for it, are trying to dupe, steal, and whatever to get it. Others, when they do the work, sometimes they don't get immediately paid.

My wife completed her nursing program there, I asked her to make sure that she got some photos. I didn't know that the photos were going to cost $3000 naira. I asked if she was sure. She said yes she was sure. I was like wow. Anyhow, I wasn't going to send $30 dollars home for nothing. So at the beginning of the month, I sent my wife her monthly allowance and paid for the photos she took at her graduation. Over there, they know the money will eventually come. So they don't stress you out, like they do over here if the money is late.

I know a lot of Nigerian-Americans youths that I grow up with need to experience it all in full, in someways, it provides you with a great deal of perspective and admiration of both countries.

[idocare 3]

Tunji,

Your just the person that I need to communicate with. I have a very young first born Nigerian

son. Sounds like your a American born Nigerian. Am I correct?

[Tunji&Toyin 0]

Tunji,

Your just the person that I need to communicate with. I have a very young first born Nigerian

son. Sounds like your a American born Nigerian. Am I correct?

Yes, I am a first generation.

[Zee Bee 61]

Hi All,

This is my first time posting a topic. I hope everyone is well. I have just became engaged to my fiance 2 months ago. My fiance has always talked about being broke because his company does not pay him. Does anyone know if it's common for people in Nigeria to work a job and not get paid for a few months?

Thanks and God bless

Unfortunately its not only Nigeria but more common in Africa than it should be. I believe it is one of the reasons why, in order to get a majority of things done, you have to grease palms.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

My husband is from Ghana. He had it happen to him there. But he didn't continue working. He eventually went to the main office and refused to leave until they gave him his pay. I'm still not sure if the company was suffering and couldn't pay the employees or they were using the employees for free labor.

But, the second part about family cheating you or stealing from you....I haven't experienced that in Ghana. But I have experienced it in GA. My cousins robbing my mom of money they "borrowed" and never paid back. So, maybe that's not cultural?

Edited September 22, 2008 by Bassi and Zainab

[chispas 0]

Hola Ladies,

The money examples given by all are extremely accurate in many African countries. Many many people are in need and quite a few do have to struggle to get their pay from their employer. That is part of the culture which we in the West may find puzzling but in Africa is common. If your fiance needs a sounding board for his situation, you are being quite supportive for him. He didn't directly ask you for money, so that is even better. In the end, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to open up your pocketbook and help out your fiance. If you want to wait until you meet him face to face before you make that decision, then I'd say that's a good choice too.

Chispas

[kk_mine 0]

Juss to add my fiance makes at times less then $100.00 a month. What breaks my heart is that he works so hard!!! He only takes one day off but makes that lil. I cried to the point that I had to calm down as that hurts me so bad! But he did not know I cried and I did not say anything to him about it as I don't want to make him feel bad (I could never do that). But he went to college and trained in his skill three years but does not make what He is Worth!

Edited October 4, 2008 by kk_mine

[ladybee 0]

Juss to add my fiance makes at times less then $100.00 a month. What breaks my heart is that he works so hard!!! He only takes one day off but makes that lil. I cried to the point that I had to calm down as that hurts me so bad! But he did not know I cried and I did not say anything to him about it as I don't want to make him feel bad (I could never do that). But he went to college and trained in his skill three years but does not make what He is Worth!

Its unbelievable how the is so many educated people in Africa who can not use there skills. And some even get to America and still cannot get a job in there given skill. I met a nigerian doctor who studied in Sweden and then went back to migeria and then came to the states and then had to go back to medical school to get get american certicates and still not working in the medical field but doing something lower. What sad news.