A viral social media post detailing a grueling job offer from a private school has ignited intense debate over the systemic underpayment and poor treatment of educators in Nigeria.
The controversy began when an educator shared her recent interview experience on X (formerly Twitter), revealing an overwhelming workload paired with a salary that many have labeled “exploitative.”
According to the job seeker, the unnamed private school expected her to teach multiple subjects across different grade levels—including Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1–3 English, as well as Social Studies and Basic Science for JSS 2 and 3.
The role demanded a staggering 28 periods a week, plus mandatory extra lessons stretching from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM daily.
The financial compensation offered for this workload was ₦58,000 per month, inclusive of the extra lesson fees.
“Walking is an Exercise”
The breaking point of the interview, however, came when the applicant attempted to negotiate her salary, citing the high cost of transportation and a 20-minute commute.
“I told him the pay is low because I’d take transport… and he said walking is an exercise,” she wrote. “I stood up, carried my CV, and walked out without saying anything.”
The HR manager’s dismissive remark has drawn sharp criticism online, with netizens pointing to a culture of workplace toxicity and a lack of empathy for the economic realities currently facing Nigerian workers.
Public Backlash and Reactions
The post quickly garnered traction, generating thousands of engagements as commentators rallied behind her decision to walk out.
The public reaction highlighted a mix of outrage, humor, and frustration regarding the teaching profession:
One user, posting under the moniker SPACE, commented: “28 periods, extra lessons till 5pm, multiple subjects and 58k? Then he added motivational speaking on top 😭 You really respected yourself by leaving.”
Others noted that while underpayment is rampant, compensation varies wildly by institution. Olamigaju shared a contrasting example: “The environment one resides matters a lot. I have a young girl that just finished NYSC that teaches in a primary school and her pay is around 100k. She’s just a subject teacher o.”
The incident reopened broader conversations about the value placed on educators. Michael expressed his frustration, stating: “With how much I love teaching… their pay irritates me at times. What do you mean teachers are not meant to have a soft life?”
Some users joked that she should have left even sooner. Eucharia Emedo remarked: “You no quick comot [You didn’t leave fast enough]. You waited till he added the motivational speech on top.”
