After about 6 months of working on this concept, Olabisi Oniro my reporter finally got the opportunity to interview Otunba Danjuma Gboju; a leading industrialist and tycoon in Nigeria (names are fictitious for confidential reasons). He was willing to chat with her in his Chauffeur-driven Toyota Sequoia sans camera or tape recorder.
. . . . . . . . . . (Interview)
Bisi: Good evening Mr Danjuma Gboju, Thank you for making out time for me. I'm conducting an opinion poll on the Perception of the labour from the employers/employees angle and I have some questions for you.
Otunba: oh wonderful! Not a problem....shoot!!!
Bisi: How learned are you sir?
Otunba: I have an M.Sc in International Relations/diplomacy from the prestigious Imperial College London asides my impeccable business development skills, I have many international certifications in my name. On a softer note, I'm an accomplished chef.
Bisi: It was once rumoured that you once sold your own mother and bought her back for half the price. How true is that?
Otunba: *laughs hysterically* That is so not true. My mother has never been auctioned or put up for sale under any circumstance. I want to believe that the rumour is an artistic liberty to imply that I'm a very shrewd businessman.
Bisi: Thank you sir for clearing our doubt. In terms of employment, I know you are a very big employer of labour with over 2000 employees on your payroll. However, the word out there is that your staff are grossly underpaid. How true is this?
Otunba: Honestly I'm surprised that such a rumour is being peddled about my leadership and my businesses. Its a big shame that some people would stir up such an unsubstantiated claim just to drag my name in the mud. Let God be the judge!
Bisi: *smiling softly* I understand that some people are not happy with your success and I believe you would be vindicated in the end. However, I am curious to how much a recruit/graduate level staff earns at Jaguda Holdings; one of your numerous companies. I might be interested in working with you.
Otunba: I cannot categorically tell you how much they earn, my HR Manager would be in a better position to brief you on that.
Bisi: On a more personal level, how much would I earn if I decided to come work for you with less than 2years of work experience?
Otunba: *clears throat* You seem really persistent, I would say a region of N70,000 as a full staff and N30,000-N40,000 as a graduate intern after tax.
Bisi: Ah!!! After working 9hours per day for 5days a week? This means I would be earning N3500 per day, N389 per hour,N6.5 per minute and 10kobo per second as a full staff. Then as a graduate intern, I would probably be earning N1500 per day, N167 per hour, N2.80kobo per minute and 4kobo per second.
Otunba: If you see it like that "lady". *smiling* I would advice you to look beyond the present. You would be open to opportunities, you would be getting a lot of experience and also a chance to network with others; so its not about the money exactly.
Bisi: Splendid, so what do you think about the current salary system in Nigeria compared to what obtains in the developed world?
Otunba: I believe the Nigerian salary system is unjust, most people are not paid according to the amount of effort put into work but based on position. In all honesty, I would suggest we replicate the hourly salary system used in the western world; it would be a win-win situation for employers and employees alike.
Bisi: When you say win-win situation, do you mean that the employers and employess would benefit but the employers would benefit more?
Otunba: *laughs heartily* By win-win, I mean win-win. I didn't speak with water in my mouth. If you borrow my futuristic spectacles, you would find out that a reform of the Nigerian salary system would be advantageous to all. Workers would be motivated, they would receive better rewards for their efforts and would most likely work for lesser hours. The employers would enjoy the services of their efficient staff and would ease themselves of the burden of deadwood on their payroll. Bisi: So this new salary regime you are talking about, how does it affect unemployment?
Otunba: This doesn't change the fact that many people in Nigerian are unemployed and are more than willing to take up these few available jobs under any circumstance. Its quite clear that unemployment is a global phenomenon and I believe strongly that if people are paid hourly/according to their efficiency, there would be fewer cases of square pegs in round holes. The incompetent ones would lose their jobs and other people would have access to jobs that have the ability and skill for.
Bisi: In the wake of unemployment do u for-see the rise of a modern day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to himself? Please give reasons why or why not.
Otunba: Of course there would be rise of many Robin Hoods since the system is so unjust. This is simply because the general belief is that you can't get what you need the right way but by force or other corrupt means.
Bisi: Such vision sir! *smiling* I gathered that you have a son who is currently serving the nation in Oyo State. Are you saying that he would be happy and comfortable to earn either N30,000 or N70,000 after spending 5years studying Engineering in a private university in Nigeria where a session's tuition is about 1000% higher than that of a public University?
Otunba: I do not feel comfortable with this interview anymore. I'm uncertain to your motives. Is this a personal vendetta or what?
Bisi: I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable sir, that was just a curious mind probing with youthful exuberance.
Otunba: *signals to continue*
Bisi: What do you forsee as the future of salary earners?
Otunba: I see a continuous cycle of under-productivity as most salary earners would continue to face d problem of not being paid enough to meet their insatiable wants because no matter how much they earn, their taste and their needs would always increase directly and proportionately. This in turn could affect their devotion to work, their level of productivity and ultimately Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bisi: Thank you for granting me audience today. The whole Black Jesus team sends their gratitude.
Otunba: Its a pleasure. Don't forget to send me a copy of your magazine when it is printed.
(Next week our correspondent Olabisi Oniro would be reporting a similar story. This time the interview would be conducted on a junior staff rather than an employer of labour).
Anticipate!
. . . . . . . . . . (Interview)
Bisi: Good evening Mr Danjuma Gboju, Thank you for making out time for me. I'm conducting an opinion poll on the Perception of the labour from the employers/employees angle and I have some questions for you.
Otunba: oh wonderful! Not a problem....shoot!!!
Bisi: How learned are you sir?
Otunba: I have an M.Sc in International Relations/diplomacy from the prestigious Imperial College London asides my impeccable business development skills, I have many international certifications in my name. On a softer note, I'm an accomplished chef.
Bisi: It was once rumoured that you once sold your own mother and bought her back for half the price. How true is that?
Otunba: *laughs hysterically* That is so not true. My mother has never been auctioned or put up for sale under any circumstance. I want to believe that the rumour is an artistic liberty to imply that I'm a very shrewd businessman.
Bisi: Thank you sir for clearing our doubt. In terms of employment, I know you are a very big employer of labour with over 2000 employees on your payroll. However, the word out there is that your staff are grossly underpaid. How true is this?
Otunba: Honestly I'm surprised that such a rumour is being peddled about my leadership and my businesses. Its a big shame that some people would stir up such an unsubstantiated claim just to drag my name in the mud. Let God be the judge!
Bisi: *smiling softly* I understand that some people are not happy with your success and I believe you would be vindicated in the end. However, I am curious to how much a recruit/graduate level staff earns at Jaguda Holdings; one of your numerous companies. I might be interested in working with you.
Otunba: I cannot categorically tell you how much they earn, my HR Manager would be in a better position to brief you on that.
Bisi: On a more personal level, how much would I earn if I decided to come work for you with less than 2years of work experience?
Otunba: *clears throat* You seem really persistent, I would say a region of N70,000 as a full staff and N30,000-N40,000 as a graduate intern after tax.
Bisi: Ah!!! After working 9hours per day for 5days a week? This means I would be earning N3500 per day, N389 per hour,N6.5 per minute and 10kobo per second as a full staff. Then as a graduate intern, I would probably be earning N1500 per day, N167 per hour, N2.80kobo per minute and 4kobo per second.
Otunba: If you see it like that "lady". *smiling* I would advice you to look beyond the present. You would be open to opportunities, you would be getting a lot of experience and also a chance to network with others; so its not about the money exactly.
Bisi: Splendid, so what do you think about the current salary system in Nigeria compared to what obtains in the developed world?
Otunba: I believe the Nigerian salary system is unjust, most people are not paid according to the amount of effort put into work but based on position. In all honesty, I would suggest we replicate the hourly salary system used in the western world; it would be a win-win situation for employers and employees alike.
Bisi: When you say win-win situation, do you mean that the employers and employess would benefit but the employers would benefit more?
Otunba: *laughs heartily* By win-win, I mean win-win. I didn't speak with water in my mouth. If you borrow my futuristic spectacles, you would find out that a reform of the Nigerian salary system would be advantageous to all. Workers would be motivated, they would receive better rewards for their efforts and would most likely work for lesser hours. The employers would enjoy the services of their efficient staff and would ease themselves of the burden of deadwood on their payroll. Bisi: So this new salary regime you are talking about, how does it affect unemployment?
Otunba: This doesn't change the fact that many people in Nigerian are unemployed and are more than willing to take up these few available jobs under any circumstance. Its quite clear that unemployment is a global phenomenon and I believe strongly that if people are paid hourly/according to their efficiency, there would be fewer cases of square pegs in round holes. The incompetent ones would lose their jobs and other people would have access to jobs that have the ability and skill for.
Bisi: In the wake of unemployment do u for-see the rise of a modern day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to himself? Please give reasons why or why not.
Otunba: Of course there would be rise of many Robin Hoods since the system is so unjust. This is simply because the general belief is that you can't get what you need the right way but by force or other corrupt means.
Bisi: Such vision sir! *smiling* I gathered that you have a son who is currently serving the nation in Oyo State. Are you saying that he would be happy and comfortable to earn either N30,000 or N70,000 after spending 5years studying Engineering in a private university in Nigeria where a session's tuition is about 1000% higher than that of a public University?
Otunba: I do not feel comfortable with this interview anymore. I'm uncertain to your motives. Is this a personal vendetta or what?
Bisi: I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable sir, that was just a curious mind probing with youthful exuberance.
Otunba: *signals to continue*
Bisi: What do you forsee as the future of salary earners?
Otunba: I see a continuous cycle of under-productivity as most salary earners would continue to face d problem of not being paid enough to meet their insatiable wants because no matter how much they earn, their taste and their needs would always increase directly and proportionately. This in turn could affect their devotion to work, their level of productivity and ultimately Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bisi: Thank you for granting me audience today. The whole Black Jesus team sends their gratitude.
Otunba: Its a pleasure. Don't forget to send me a copy of your magazine when it is printed.
(Next week our correspondent Olabisi Oniro would be reporting a similar story. This time the interview would be conducted on a junior staff rather than an employer of labour).
Anticipate!
Finally I can comment. *sigh* rily serious post. Nice
ReplyDeleteI ddnt see this coming. Still great.
ReplyDeleteMphile
Wow! Dis z nt for the weak or lazy at heart. Big ups man
ReplyDeleteNice one S
ReplyDelete