Japa: Nigerian Man Cries Out as UK Government Allegedly Deducts N1.2m from N3.2m Wages
- A Nigerian man in the UK said £620 was deducted from his £1,600 pay, leaving him with £990
- He lamented that high taxes make saving and sending money home difficult
- The video sparked debate, with some Nigerians sympathising and others noting UK taxes are standard
A Nigerian man currently working in the United Kingdom has shared his frustration on social media after discovering that a huge portion of his monthly salary was taken out in tax deductions.
In a viral video seen on social media and transcribed by Legit.ng, the man narrated how the UK tax system had left him frustrated after a huge chunk was deducted from his recent payslip.
Source: Getty Images
Nigerian worker in UK laments wage deductions
According to him, his gross wage was £1,600, but after the UK government’s tax and other deductions were removed, he was left with just £990. The development, he said, has made him question whether all the stress and long hours are worth the sacrifices.
He narrated his ordeal:
“I woke up very angry this morning and in a very bad mood. Two weeks ago, my wages weren’t paid in full at work, and they are still owing me two days’ wages. Last week, I worked 5 shifts, plus the 2 shifts they owed me, making 7 shifts in total. I was expecting them to pay me properly this time.
But when I checked my payslip this morning, these people literally paid me £1,600 and removed like £620 with tax. All I’m getting is £990. Imagine how much they removed.”
High taxes make it hard to save
The Nigerian worker explained that the level of deductions makes it difficult to save or even send money home to support family members in Nigeria, which is one of the main reasons many Africans take jobs abroad.
Source: Getty Images
He continued:
“You will now be wondering what’s the essence of running helter-skelter all in the name of making money. They removed over £620 for just one week. Imagine them removing the same thing for four weeks.”
The man also drew comparisons between himself and his European neighbours, particularly some from the Czech Republic, who, according to him, were already returning home as their country’s economy was improving.
“I have some Czech Republic people as neighbours. I saw them packing their luggage yesterday and asked where they were going. They said they are going back to their country because their country is getting better.
It is only we in Africa that can’t go back to our country. This is so sad and disheartening.”
He revealed that it was a friend, identified as Samuel Adeleke, who encouraged him to take up the job in the UK, assuring him that the pay would be worthwhile.
“Samuel Adeleke encouraged me to do the work and got me into it. He said the less you work, the better the pay you might get. But me, I work hard, running every day to Liverpool, only for them to take over £620,” he said.
Social media debate trails viral video
His story sparked debate online, with many Nigerians expressing sympathy while others argued that such deductions are standard in the UK and part of living in a highly taxed economy.
Here are some comments made by netizens:
@alaye_ng said:
If you don’t like it over there you can just come back home to your lovely country.
@seanpepisky said:
That’s crazy 😧 but honestly, not much different in the US. For example, if I put in 140–180 hrs in 2 weeks, I’ll make way over $10,000 in pay, but about $3,000–$3,500 goes straight to taxes. The more hours you work, the more Uncle Sam takes. Best strategy is to stay around 40hrs weekly, max 60hrs, so you actually enjoy your paycheck.
@FolajeuwoNelson said:
UK tax mad gan, how do you expect a nation that barely has natural resources to grow? They rely mostly on Tax and foreigners.
Kemi Badenoch likely to be replaced
Legit.ng earlier reported that unrest within the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party had intensified as poll ratings for the party dropped ahead of next week’s local elections, raising questions about Kemi Badenoch’s leadership.
Badenoch, who has served as Tory leader for six months, faced criticism for focusing on issues deemed irrelevant to the party’s current challenges.
Source: Legit.ng
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng
Atanda Omobolaji (Kwara State Correspondent) Atanda Omobolaji is an experienced journalist with more than six years of dedicated service in metro reporting. His investigative skills and commitment to ethical journalism have allowed him to shed light on critical issues affecting communities.
