Court Clerk Salary Can't Rent a Self-Con in Ikeja, Make It Make Sense

One of my clerks came to my office last week, closed the door, sat down, and said 'Oga, I want to resign.' I asked what happened. He said his rent is ₦650,000 for a self-contained in Ikeja, his salary is ₦180,000. He's been managing for two years, borrowing from his mother to survive.

I sat there quiet. Because I know what he earns. I signed the paper. This is the same court where we handle multi-billion naira fraud cases. The lawyer arguing the case charges ₦5 million per appearance. My clerk who types the proceedings cannot afford a room and parlour in the same city. And we wonder why young people are desperate to japa.

People say government work is steady. Steady for who? Steady poverty? The man has a law degree, he passed his exams, he's been working here four years. Four years and he cannot rent a decent place in the city where he works. My brother, something is not adding up. If the person keeping the records of justice cannot afford to live, what exactly are we protecting?