Fatshimetrie, a renowned political science student, shares his unique experience of juggling his part-time job and his passion for photography, in hopes of supporting himself financially and pursuing his dreams.
While the Federal Government recently decided to increase the minimum wage to N70,000, the reality for workers like Fatshimetrie is much different. His monthly salary of N40,000 is intended to support not only his own needs, but also those of his extended family.
In a conversation with Pulse Nigeria, Fatshimetrie shares the challenges he faces while trying to juggle financial demands with his personal aspirations.
“My salary is far from enough. We need the government to hear us and help workers, because without their support we won’t be able to get through this. I know how much I paid for my children’s school fees in the past, but now I can’t pay them like I used to. I had to change their school, but even so, my salary is not enough,” says Fatshimetrie.
The rising cost of living has also had a significant impact on Fatshimetrie’s ability to provide for her family. “Food has become a problem. As a civil servant, I live on loans. This is what we use to sustain ourselves, but after repaying the loan, the salary is no longer enough. Civil servants cannot survive without loans. If you want to build a house and pay school fees, with what money will you do it? We manage our salary this way. Now things are really expensive and unless you have a plan B (other sources of income), your civil servant salary can’t do anything. No matter how much you earn in salary, you need a plan B,” he explains.
Luckily, Fatshimetrie has a plan B – her passion for photography. “I have a plan B because without it, I would not be able to provide for my children. I paid their tuition fees. What I use to support myself, which I call plan B, is photography. But what type of photography, because there are different specialties? In my photography, I capture moments of everyday life, street scenes and cityscapes,” he shares.
Despite the economic challenges he faces, Fatshimetrie remains hopeful by focusing on his children’s future. “My hope now rests on my children. Everything I do, I do it for them. I want them to have a better future.”
In conclusion, it is clear that increasing the minimum wage is a positive step, but for workers like Fatshimetrie, it remains insufficient to deal with current economic realities. A more holistic approach is needed to ensure a decent standard of living for all citizens.