Finally, the alert appeared:
“Credit transaction alert on xxxxxx0777”
SMS hitting my phone on the 28th of every month used to decide what the subsequent month would look like.
I am currently working for a private company.
I am full of life; I am full of aspiration, the only currency that could buy wishes that can only be accessible in the future. I have no idea of what awaited me during my undergrad days, I could only hope for the better. My first job was not permanent, an executive assistant to the director. The job description for the role was so similar to that of an executive. I could boast about how much working I have learned so fast working there; but not such much pay-wise. the job was nothing to boast of in terms of pay structure, worker welfare, and policies. Personally, my career had an indeterminate path. From within, I knew in time that I would tender my resignation.
The time came and I could not be more grateful for this new job as it was a result of sleepless nights, long hours of study, and countless numbers of preparation. My new job opened pathways to several possibilities that I could never have imagined. I am gaining enormous exposure from writing business plans to outsourcing for global partnerships to organizing workshops. Although the job description was impressive, the salary, while better than the previous one, was still manageable.
My mornings now start at 4:30 am, struggling to get ready and leave the house before 7 am to ensure an early arrival at work. Like any other day, life keeps moving forward amidst danfo drivers, boisterous conductors, pickpockets, and nosy park agberos. Your body thumps against the next person beside you with every gallop on the road. The annoying part of taking public transport is the usual morning chorus:
“Make una owe your change”
“Fine girl I no get change”
in most cases, it is the monotonous sound of the tout while screaming to onboard interested passengers
“Ikeja along, Agege Egbeda!!”
Lagos na your mate!
Living in a city like Lagos is no joke, most especially in the urban areas and suburbs- House rent is on the increase as well as prices of food items. The funny thing is that everything is on the rise except salary which remains constant and depletes every second you remember the thousands of mouths that need to be fed. It would be safe to say the income from my new job was enough for survival but not for living. If I ever wanted a comfortable life, I needed to do more to get through.
So, what is even the purpose of this write-up in the first place? Exposure, you heard me right. Exposure does not pay bills. We get to a point in life where we always want more, money, advancement, gigs, and more success. Human wants are insatiable, exposure never made it better. Don’t get me wrong! Exposure introduces you to several ways in which you can quench your thirst but it does not stifle it. I want to keep the job but not the pay. The salary could barely take care of the major responsibilities, so I decided like every reasonable and hard-working Lagosian to search for a side -hustle.
What I am trying to say is that some of these jobs flock to the streets of Lagos with quite impressive job descriptions, prepossessing logos, and decent work environments but no reasonable income to hold a candle.
As much as I need exposure, I also need a pay increase too.