Everyone praises Nigerian startups. "They are building for Africa!" "They are creating jobs!" I work for one of the "celebrated" fintech startups in Yaba. Let me tell you the truth. I earn ₦180,000 monthly as a customer success lead. I work 10 hours daily, six days a week. I have no health insurance. My contract says "contractor" so they don't pay pension. When I had appendicitis, I used my salary and borrowed from my sister. Last month, the CEO bought a new G-Wagon. He posted about "grinding with the team." The team is grinding. He is gliding. The exploitation is sophisticated. They use motivational language to mask extraction. "We are a family." "We are changing Africa." "Equity is coming." The equity never comes. The raises never come. But the burnout is guaranteed. They hire young graduates desperate for "tech experience," work them to the bone, and replace them when they collapse. Compare this to my friend who works remotely for a German company. She earns €3,000 monthly. She has 30 days paid leave. She has mental health support. When she is sick, they send flowers. I am not saying foreign companies are perfect. But the gap in worker dignity is embarrassing. Nigerian founders will tweet about "toxic foreign workplaces" while running modern-day plantations in Lekki. The hypocrisy is loud. We need to start holding our own accountable. Startup employees, are you being paid what you're worth? Founders, can you defend paying yourself millions while your staff skips meals? Let's hear both sides.
