In this economy, you’d think Nigerians would endure anything for a paycheck. But some work experiences are so unbearable that the only logical response is to stand up and never return.
From employers who think exposure is currency to bosses who believe work-life balance is a myth, these Nigerians didn’t wait for HR. They clocked out of the madness in real time.
“They wanted me to work six days a week for ₦65k” — Toluwani*, 28, M
Toluwani knew he would never show up at a new job the moment he heard their ridiculous expectations.
“Once the pay and workload don’t match, I mentally check out.
One time, I landed an interview where they said I’d work Tuesdays to Sundays, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., for ₦85k a month. I was already irritated, but then they said I’d be on probation for the first two months, and earn only ₦65k during that time. The lady interviewing me was like, ‘You’ll learn a lot and meet new people.’
First of all, I’m loved at home. There’s no way I’d leave Yaba for Osapa for less than ₦100k a month. I didn’t even argue; I just pretended to agree. The moment I left, I called my mum and we both laughed about how ridiculous the offer was.
I never showed up. When they kept calling, I blocked both the interviewer and the company’s page. I don’t regret it at all, good riddance!”
“They wanted to kill me with work” — Esther*, 26, F
Esther realised the salary wasn’t worth it when they tried to increase her workload.
“In March 2023, I worked as a junior marketer at a digital marketing agency, and the job nearly killed me.
I took on both marketing and administrative roles as soon as I resumed, because the previous admin had quit right before I started. I was working two jobs for one salary.
The ₦400k pay made me stay, but the team was falling apart. People kept getting sick or quitting. I told myself I’d survive until December, but then the social media manager quit, and my boss told me to take over her duties too.
When I complained that I couldn’t handle it, he sneered and called me lazy. He also said I wasn’t doing much for the company in a bid to guilt-trip me. I felt so tired and unappreciated, I cried on my way home. When I got home, I submitted my resignation and never returned to that office.”
“I knew it was time to go when my boss tried toasting me” — Dupe*, 27, F
Dupe knew her time was up when her boss started harassing her.
“I loved my job until I was forced to resign in mid-2024. I ran into my boss at a rave I’d attended with some friends. I didn’t even recognise him at first; he was the one who spotted me. I said hi and moved on, but the next day, his energy changed.
It started with small jokes like, ‘I didn’t know you dressed like that outside work,’ and I’d laugh them off. Then he started suggesting dates, which I also brushed off. One day, around April, he called me to his office after work., I thought it was work-related, but he started talking about how much he liked me and wanted us to date. I firmly refused his passes, but he made my life hell after that.
Suddenly, all my work had faults. They even placed me on probation at some point. That’s when I knew my time was up. One Friday, I quietly submitted my resignation and informed them that I wouldn’t be coming back.
It pained me to leave a job I loved because my boss couldn’t control himself. I hope God punishes his bald head.”
“I was so tired, I went home and didn’t look back” — Feranmi*, 27, F
Feranmi got so overwhelmed that she simply walked away without notice.
“When I moved to Lagos in 2023, I got a job at a production company as the only video editor. They worked me to the bone. There were events almost every day, and I had to edit videos within three days. I was always behind, always anxious about Mondays, and spent weekends working.
My boss never appreciated my effort. He constantly insulted me and told me to quit if I couldn’t cope.
The day I left, I was so overwhelmed with work that I called my mum crying. She tried to console me and told me to come home to rest. It was like a switch flipped in my head. I went back into the office, lied that I had period cramps and left early. I went straight to the bus park and hitched a ride to Ife. They called and texted for days at work, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t even collect my salary. I just needed to be out of there. I can never do work like that again in my life.”
“After my team lead embarrassed me, I left work and didn’t go back” — Bimpe*, 32, F
Bimpe picked up her things and left after a public dressing-down at a company-wide meeting.
“I got my first big girl in 2017 at a family friend’s company. I’d just completed uni and was fine starting as a front desk clerk. I’d also planned to spend my service year in the company. After a short while, I noticed the head of the admin department didn’t like me. He constantly picked at me and found faults with my work.
At first, I took it like a champ. I thought it was all part of learning on the job, but I was so wrong.
On my last day there, we had a general meeting where each team lead had to mention an area their team needed to improve on. When it got to my team’s turn, my lead mentioned me by name and said I’d never done anything right since I joined the company.
He blasted me so badly that even my teammates told him to stop. I was embarrassed and discouraged, and I almost cried.
When I got home, I told my parents I wasn’t going back, and they couldn’t convince me otherwise. It took some back and forth, but they eventually accepted my decision.
That’s how I left that job. I spent my service year teaching at a public school near my house instead. That one came with its own wahala, but it was better than the alternative.”
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