Lady Who Got Office Donation for Surgery Allegedly Criticises Support for Security Guard's Wife
- A female office worker was among 11 staff members asked to contribute N20,000 each to support a security guard whose wife just gave birth
- The lady reportedly suggested reducing the contribution to N5,000, citing personal expenses for the month
- Colleagues online pointed out that the same N20,000 standard had been applied when the office contributed towards her own appendix operation
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A Nigerian office worker has sparked debate online after she allegedly proposed cutting the standard staff contribution for a security guard's newborn, despite having benefited from the same gesture herself.
The story was shared on X by a colleague, @Olami_deeEbony, who recounted the events after their HR department announced plans to support the security guard whose wife had recently given birth.
Source: Getty Images
Office tradition puts lady on the spot
According to @Olami_deeEbony, the office operates a culture where all 11 staff members pool N20,000 each whenever a colleague marks a major life event such as a wedding or the birth of a child. Rather than wait for the baby dedication, HR decided to act immediately, with the company covering the total upfront and deducting each person's share of N20,000 from their end-of-month salary.
The plan was straightforward: the full collection of N220,000 would go towards the security guard's household, with N20,000 set aside to buy nappies and the remaining N200,000 transferred directly to his account.
However, a member of the accounting team allegedly objected to the arrangement.
"Why should we contribute ₦20,000 for a common gateman? He doesn't even earn up to that amount as salary. I have a lot of expenses this month. Let's just do ₦5,000 each," she said.
Colleagues remind lady of her own operation
What made the suggestion particularly striking to her colleagues was the context. The same woman who was now allegedly pushing for a reduced contribution had recently undergone an appendix operation, during which the same office tradition had applied. Each member of staff had contributed the standard N20,000 towards her medical expenses.
The contrast was not lost on those who heard about the story online, where @Olami_deeEbony's post drew significant attention and prompted widespread conversation about workplace solidarity and double standards.
Speaking to Legit.ng about the situation, Mr. Godwin Ogwuche, a relationship expert at Goru Counseling and Therapy Services, shared his thoughts on why some people may struggle to show the same concern for others that they expect to receive themselves.
On what could make someone show more concern for themselves than for others, Ogwuche pointed to a possible lack of empathy. He explained that people sometimes become so focused on their own challenges that they fail to recognise that others may also be going through difficult situations.
He said:
"Looking at the situation in the article, where the woman received support for her surgery but later criticised the support given to the security guard’s wife, I think one possible issue is a lack of empathy. Sometimes, when a person is going through a difficult situation, they become so focused on their own pain and needs that they find it difficult to recognise that other people are also struggling."
"It can also come from a sense of entitlement, where someone begins to see support as something they deserve but does not necessarily feel the same responsibility towards others. But I would not judge her entire personality based on one incident. What the situation teaches us generally is that receiving help should also make us more sensitive to the struggles of other people. When we have experienced kindness ourselves, we should be able to understand why another person may also need support."
Ogwuche also explained that receiving help does not always automatically make a person more willing to support others. He noted that some people may see their own situation as more deserving of attention, while others may have a limited capacity for empathy.
On why some people struggle to help others after receiving support themselves, he said:
"In this particular case, what stands out is the contrast between the support the woman received for her surgery and her reaction to the support given to the security guard’s wife. Sometimes people can receive help during their own difficult moments without developing a deeper understanding of what it means to be there for others."
There may also be different reasons for such behaviour. Some people believe their own situation is more urgent or more deserving, while others may simply have a limited capacity for empathy. But ideally, when you have experienced people coming together to support you when you were vulnerable, it should make you more compassionate towards someone else who is also facing a difficult situation."
The relationship expert further stressed that support should not be seen as something people receive only when they are in need. He encouraged people who have benefited from kindness to also develop a willingness to support others, noting that such support does not always have to involve money.
He added:
"Support should not be viewed as something that only comes to us when we need it. We should also develop the mindset of asking, “Who else needs help, and what can I do?” It does not always have to be financial; sometimes showing concern, encouragement or simply standing by someone can make a big difference."
The full story shared online can be read on X below.
Nigerians donate to UNILAG student
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that Nigerians donated hundreds of thousands of naira to a final-year University of Lagos student whose laptop was stolen while she was working on her project.
The crowdfunding effort quickly surpassed the cost of replacing the laptop after an anonymous donor and other well-wishers contributed to support her.
Source: Legit.ng
