Ijeoma Ugwumba’s happy mood over the date she had simply shattered once she waltzed into her Lekki lodging one sultry Sunday evening.
Speaking with Naij.com, the mid-level federal functionary says: “I saw a note from my house facilitate, Oluchi (Muoghalu), spoken communication that she had left. Her (mobile phone) variety wasn't going, I known as her folks (in Anambara State) and that they aforesaid they didn't see her. i used to be dashing to stay an arrangement with my date, therefore I gave her N30,000 to pay into the bank on behalf of me. once I came back, Oluchi had disappeared together with her baggage and my cash.”
“Not solely that; she left with my optical disk (player), my manicure kit, and even had the audacity to require a number of my underclothes,” she additional.
Ms Ugwumba’s four days of an intensive hunt eventually unearthed Ms Muoghalu within the remote Delta State. She had aborted a physiological condition, unknown to her worker, and eloped with a beau to Asaba. She had additionally, to Ms Ugwumba’s chagrin, borrowed N10,000 from a neighbour on her employer’s behalf.
Ms Ugwumba’s plight represents what a growing variety of port residents experience at the hands of domestic servants. The speedily growing variety of operating girls and also the demands of living in Associate in Nursing over inhabited mega town like port have necessitated the requirement for employee to require care of homes and kids, in some cases.
In downtown Surulere, another resident, Bernadene Ihekweme, got a recent scare once she got home from work, around 10pm one night, to seek out her maid and 3 kids missing.
“Apart from my initial son, (Jude), the remainder square measure unremarkably in bed by that point. I nearly had a attack. I frightened and commenced vocation each neighbour to grasp wherever they were,” she said.
Her fears were assuaged once it clothed her husband, World Health Organization works and resides in capital of Nigeria, had paid a surprise visit and vie a prank on her by whisking the family away.
“Normally I shouldn’t have frightened like that, however during this era of maids and houseboys conniving with kidnappers, my brother does one blame me?” additional Ms Ihekweme.
Her suspicions square measure equally reflected by majority of respondents; even in cases wherever domestic servants are with their employers for long periods.
A few unhealthy eggs spoil the entire basket.
Having served her leader for a “loyal” eight years, Kikelomo Olarenwaju, is umbrageous at the suggestion that her trait may be suspect.
“That one will ne'er happen,” she declared. “My madam (Abisola John-Martins) will ne'er attempt to suspect ME for all the world. I even have been here for therefore long that I can’t ruin. In short, i'm currently a vicinity of the family. My madam has already registered for my JAMB; that's as a result of she currently desires ME to travel to college similar to her kids.”
Emilia general is Associate in Nursing political economy graduate, and manages a cyber restaurant at Aguda, Surulere. She has served as a house facilitate to Cyprain and Geraldine Okwara since 2006.
“There was a time I had a drag with madam, however since then I even have a awfully smart relationship with them,” she said. “I am terribly grateful to them; oga sponsored my education from secondary to technical school, and even opened this cyber restaurant on behalf of me to manage. i'll stick with them till I marry.”
The experts’ recommendation.
Dave Uko, a legal professional person, believes that a number of these house helps that act do therefore as a reaction to the unfair conditions of labour they could be subjected to.
“Some of those folks that complain regarding their maid or house boy did this which square measure the reason for their woes,” he said. “What does one expect from a maid World Health Organization is over laboured and underneath paid? There square measure guaranteed to be feelings of enmity in such cases. what number folks apprehend that their domestic servants, World Health Organization aren't relatives, square measure entitled to workmen’s compensation insurance underneath the Workmen Compensation Act? Domestic servants square measure human, and will be treated with the utmost respect.”
Ms Ugwumba is adamant that she treated her erstwhile maid well, and believes she has been below the belt rewarded.
“Now, her ungrateful folks {are|ar|area unit|square MEasure} accusive me of all varieties of rubbish and even vulnerable my father once he visited their house to clarify what happened,” she said.
Vox pop: House maid or house boy?
Anthony Okoye, businessman in Lawanson, Surulere. – “Definitely a housegirl because they are more respectful and unlikely to connive with criminals to rob you. I know a lot of friends that went for house boys and the kind of things they went through.”
Dave Uko, legal practitioner in Umuahia, Abia State. – “Interestingly my wife and I are currently debating this. I am tilting towards a girl, because of the house chores and market. But I think I will allow my wife to make the decision; after all she is the CEO of the home.”
Ifisade Omoruyi, banker in Ojuelegba. – “We have had three house helps; two girls and a boy (in six years). I think the boy performed better than the two girls. He could do all those chores that the girls will do, and even cook at times. Then he helps wash the cars, and some other things. When I decided that my children were old enough I recommended him to a friend, and she has not regretted hiring him.”
Jumoke Hassan, private school teacher, Costain, Ijora. – “I personally don’t subscribe to the use of house helps but I think female ones are more advisable if you must employ one.”
Amarachi Okwueze, beautician in Surulere. – “I think the main thing that matters is for one to look out for character instead of sex. Both female and male house helps have their disadvantages if you employ the wrong one. The issue is to look for a trusted relative that might need your assistance in schooling or something, and double as your house help.”
No doubt, these people questioned have a lot of basis for their argument. Terrifying situations where househelps have turned on their employers can be found everywhere. Just a month ago, on December 16th, a housemaid and the driver connived to kill their boss in Lagos. In a related incident, some children were also kidnapped by their househelp a few weeks ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment