Chapter 1: Salary No Dey Move

My oga never give me salary increase for seven straight years.

Sometimes, I dey reason if my name even dey their payroll at all. Seven years—na just the same money, like say dem swear for my salary—e no dey move an inch. Some of my guys for estate go laugh, say, 'Guy, dem tie your destiny for that company?'

This year, company give everybody salary raise—except me. Na only me dem leave out.

Even new staff wey never reach six months dey celebrate, dey pop Malt inside canteen. Me, I just dey look dem like landlord wey lose title deed.

Vex catch me, I burst enter oga office, ask am why, after all these years, my pay never move at all.

As I reach the door, my hand dey tremble small, I even pause, chest dey pound, before I push the door enter. I no even knock well sef, just balance for door, chest rise like say na bariga fight I come for.

Oga no even look up. “For Purchasing Manager? Even if you no pay one kobo, people go rush that position. Anybody wey want am fit take am.”

He dey scroll him phone, head bent, like say na bet9ja live score him dey check.

With that, I waka comot from his office.

I lock door well, but the breeze wey blow from corridor just dey hot for my body. E be like say I carry all the heat of Lagos traffic for chest.