Nigerian Lecturer Joins #30DaysRantChallenge, Shares Struggles After Buying Old Car

• The lecturer shared his experiences as a government employee on X, detailing the challenges he faced.

A Nigerian university lecturer has taken part in the #30DaysRantChallenge under President Tinubu’s administration, sharing the difficulties he faces at work following the purchase of an old-model car.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the lecturer recounted his experience, shedding light on the challenges he encounters as a government employee. He revealed that after buying a 2004/2005 Toyota Corolla—a well-maintained but older model—his colleagues and senior lecturers began to speculate about how he was able to afford it.

Many assumed that even with years of savings, his salary would not be enough to purchase such a vehicle. The lecturer’s post highlighted the workplace challenges that come with being a government employee, including the constant judgment and assumptions based on his financial choices.

He wrote:

“I work for the government as a lecturer in a federal university.”

“Two years ago, I bought a car—a 2004/2005 model Corolla. It’s an old car, but it’s quite convenient. The previous owner maintained it well, and it has a good body.”

“When I took the car to school, it triggered discussions, particularly about how I could afford it.”

“Senior colleagues began to question how I raised the money. At the time, I was a project coordinator, and many assumed I must have collected money from students to buy the vehicle.”

“There was this belief that, as a young lecturer in a federal university, I shouldn’t be able to afford even an old model car because our salaries clearly do not support such expenses—even if saved for a year or two.”

“Eventually, I lost my position as project coordinator.”

He further explained that while he saved for two years to purchase the car, he still needed help to make the full payment.

“Even after saving for two years, I didn’t have enough. I had to borrow from a colleague, and my mother contributed money from a thrift savings scheme to help me complete the payment.”

The lecturer also shared how the rising cost of fuel has impacted many of his colleagues, including senior staff members.

“Now, with the hike in fuel prices, my colleagues—even senior ones—wait at the school junction daily, hoping for a ride to campus.”

He ended by emphasizing the tough economic reality:

“By the time you fuel your car with our salary, there’s barely anything left for food or family expenses for the month.”

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As his post gained attention, many people took to the comment section to express their thoughts and share their own experiences.

Reacting to the post…

@CroBender: “But the university professors will rig elections to get certificate forgers into office and I am supposed to sympathise with their plight?”

@adebomiiiii: “Aside from the economic reality, a lot of people are damaged and traumatized they don’t even know it, imagine being shocked he could get that old model car that teenagers working fast food jobs in foreign countries can conveniently buy, coupled with several loan options Omo.”

@ikechi0x1: “Really sad. First off, there should be no federal or state universities.”

@ekpotek: “Yes, I can relate to your situation. The only things that have kept us in this university system for more than 20 years are scholarships and external grants. No successful lecturer in any university in Nigeria depends on salary.”

@oluopey: “No lies here. I’ve been there. Mine was Camry Pencil (1998/1999) model and tongues wagged about how an Assistant Lecturer as I was then was able to buy such. Too bad!”

@mrmanjustdoit: “Poverty goes deeper when national currency lose is value which means the purchasing power has dropped drastically and policies needs to be reviewed.”