How varsity graduate survives on N800 as daily income

Musa, who graduated from the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina with a degree in Geography had upon graduation, a big dream of getting a job in one of Nigeria’s public or private sectors. But things did not work out as he had expected because the quest to survive pushed him into the company of labourers […]

Musa, who graduated from the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina with a degree in Geography had upon graduation, a big dream of getting a job in one of Nigeria’s public or private sectors. But things did not work out as he had expected because the quest to survive pushed him into the company of labourers with shovel, mixing cement concrete at constructions sites and even being ordered around by ‘illiterate or semi literate’ foremen.
In his early twenties, Mustapha was spotted by our reporter amidst labourers busy carrying bricks to the brick layers at a working site and when approached, agreed to narrate his personal experience to Daily Trust, just as he offered a piece of advice to the Nigerian graduates.
 “I graduated in 2012 with a degree in Geography and I completed my NYSC in Nasarawa  State last year’s Batch A. After futile efforts to secure a job failed I decided to change my perception about labour market in this country.
“I wonder if somebody from a family without enormous political or social connections can get employed, because everything is about whom you know and who you have in certain positions. I submitted applications to so many organisations hoping to get job there but all in vain,” he said.
The pathetic job situation
He added that his short experience in the labour market opened his eyes to the reality of job search in the country, especially for those without “relatives in the corridors of power.”
Stating that his father was a village teacher before his death, he pointed out that none of his relatives wielded any ‘political or material’ power that could influence securing a job for him
“The reason why I’m telling you this is that there was a time I saw a vacancy advertisement for one of the leading agencies in the country in one of the national dailies. I then submitted my application but at the end we were told to forget seeking for job there provided our names are missing in the lists submitted and endorsed by powerful politicians.
“We were asked to immediately vacate the interview premises and we did. I want to  draw the attention of the authorities to please in the name of Almighty Allah take this problem very seriously because in the situation whereby one cannot secure a job simply because one does not belong to the families of the ruling elite then serious social crisis is imminent and thousands of youth of my calibre or status in the society will remain jobless forever,” he lamented.
Uphill task of acquiring a degree
Musa, who said he paid his way through school by farming and motorcycle taxi, stressed that he went as far as Lagos State for commercial motorbike riding in order to earn a degree, coupled with the fact that he had to take care of his aging mother and sisters, being the eldest son of the family.
Speaking on his new found job at construction sites, Musa said his colleagues at the sites respect him and at times treat him nicely because of his ‘circumstance.’  
“The foreman is being nice to me because at times if there is work he comes to my house early in the morning to notify me and the other labourers do respect me too because they believe I have become part of them only because things are not working well.
“They sometimes have sympathy for me and they always tell me that. At times the foreman himself would assign me to do non tasking jobs as most of the times would tell me that, I’m here by a fault not by designation.”
Surviving on N800 per day job
The graduate turned labourer says he goes home with N800 at the end of everyday’s work which begins from 9:00 am and stops at 5:00 pm. He added that the amount may be meagre “but self contentment is what matters because if I’m not content with what I’m earning then I won’t stay here and there will be more trouble later.”
‘My wife understands and supports my decision’
“I usually tell my wife to always exercise patience and bear with the situation. She understands my message perfectly and she is not too demanding financially owing to the fact that she knows the situation and the fact that things may one day change.’
He was bold enough to offer a piece of advice to Nigerian youths, urging them not to allow youthful exuberance to overtake their sense of good judgment, lamenting that some youths would rather choose to remain jobless than to become labourers “like me.”

He charged those with such mindsets to understand that difficulties in life are not perpetual but rather temporary.
“You can see I’m wearing my NYSC shoes to this site; after this I will happily go home with N800 and from it I will buy the essential commodities we need at home.
“Remember there are hundreds or even thousands of graduates like me who may not have even N100 as daily income. Be content and resolute in all your endeavours, surely success will come to your way,” he concluded.