Dear Freinds,
I have been reflecting on the labour poductivity question as it relates to our dear country.
Here is some startling stats from the world bank collaborated by Nigeria bureau of statistics..
Labour productivity output in US Dollars per hour worked is $3.51 in Nigeria ; $28.9 in Turkey ; $24 Russia and $10 in Brazil.
This is a reflection of the state of real incomes of workers in terms of wages of labour. It shows output os labour force in Nigeria is abysmal.
I have selected these countries because they are equally classified as emerging markets like Nigeria.
You can see we have some issues to deal with in area of productivity.
The NBS puts the blame on many factors ... the usuals' - infrastructure including power , roads , poor education etc.
I would agree but only partly..
Think about this , the few times many of us and our brothers and friends are excited about work is at the point of intervew. That is when you hear such strong promises as. 'I can work without supervision' , 'I love challenges' , 'I am a go getter' - whatever that means.
The moment we receive our letter of employment... The story changes. We start to seek all forms of excuses not to do what we have promised. It's called 'integrity'.
Think about this :
- On how many occasions have your electrician , plumber or painter promised to meet you at
8.00am and truly showed up at 8.45am?
- How many calls would a typical Sales Representative make in cities like Lagos and Port
Harcourt when most 'bump' into avoidable traffic jams ? If only he leaves his house 30 minutes
earlier.
- How many times have you heard such excuses as 'my dog had fever last night that is why I
could not get to work on time' ?
- How prductive would a teacher who spends 3 'avoidable' hours in traffic every morning ? Would
he or she find time to prepare for classes ?
- I have a barber who looks for every reason to get some extra N2k off me every other month so
his uncle dies and re dies every other month .. but he struggles to be able to get to my house
before 7am on saturdays and usually has a ready excuse.
- it's sometimes so pathetic that even if you asked a workforce of 100 to show up at work by 8am and each will take home $1,000, you will likely not have more than 50% effectiveness.
My dear friends... we need to step up and influence this narrative. Nigeria needs to start working
to fight off poverty!!
But our labour force needs to know the reality today.
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