Chapter 1: Salary Yansh Open

As I open my phone that Monday morning, sharp sharp, HR mail land for my inbox. At first, I just wan ignore, thinking say na those company broadcast. But as I open am, my eye land for the attachment—Halima Musa’s payslip. I just pause. My heart begin dey beat small small. This kind mistake, I never see before, not even in all my years for here. For where, e be like say God just wan open some people yansh for my front today.

Every month, she dey collect one hundred and fifty thousand naira—exactly eighty thousand more than me, the so-called veteran wey don dey work for six years.

I look the figure again. Na true. One hundred and fifty thousand, plus small change. I calculate am for my mind—e pass my own by eighty thousand naira! My chest tight, sweat dey my palm even though AC dey blast for office. How person go dey chop double my salary when I dey sweat for this work since dem never even buy that fridge for kitchen?

And she never even reach three months for here.

I remember the first time dem introduce Halima for Monday meeting. She still dey shine like new phone, dey talk plenty English, dey smile anyhow. Everybody hail her, but me I no too send. After all, na me dey carry company work for head. Who she be? She no reach three months now, yet na so dem dey spoil her.

She no sabi do anything, no dey learn, and na me, her mentor, dey do every small thing for her.

The thing wey dey pain me pass be say, na me dey carry her for hand, dey guide her, dey answer her question every day. From how to set camera to how to write short script, she dey disturb me tire. Sometimes, I go explain one thing like four times. I dey wonder whether she really get all those big big degree wey dem put for her CV.

No wahala, no wahala, no wahala.

As Yoruba people talk—emi lo mo, a fi suuru (I go endure, make I get patience). But as I repeat that 'no wahala' for my mind, the thing dey boil for my chest. Na so dem dey treat old staff for this Naija? I just dey bite my tongue, dey pray make I no vex pass myself.

Salary wahala: old staff no even reach dog for value.

Omo, for this life, if you no hold your own, dem go just use you clean ground. Old staff, na dog dey better pass us for here. Na so e be.

I quick remember one rumor wey circulate last year—dem talk say new recruits dey collect pass us old hands, but nobody see proof. That time, I just wave am, think say na gist. But now as I dey see Halima payslip, e just confirm say office gossip dey always get small truth.