ARE YOU CONTENT WITH YOUR WAGES? “You are a wicked man, so ₦500,000 is all you can give me for signing the job worth ₦10m naira for you? You think I will give you the job another time?” These were the words of a project supervisor to a contractor. Hmmm…they call it appreciation or returns and it is ravaging the economy. It is the highest bidder that should get the job but in most cases it is who will play ball that gets it. I cannot cease to wonder why people aren’t content with their salaries and legal allowances. In a bid to know why this happens, I sought opinions of some of my friends who pointed out Greed and insatiable desire, as the major reasons people get involved in fraud. The lack of knowledge of the word of God and lack of the fear of God was also pointed out to me. I had to agree with my friends opinions because I could indeed see that Greed is the bedrock of all these corrupt acts. I was surprised that this project supervisor thought he had the right to demand a bribe such that he could accuse the contractor of not giving him as much as he demanded. He couldn’t see his own wickedness of using his position to bully and get money fraudulently from a contractor. I thought about many things, but I also thought about myself. Will I use or do I use my position or office to fraudulently enrich myself? Isn’t it said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands? Don’t we want to be rich? Don’t we want to drive the latest models and most expensive cars? Don’t we want to live in luxury? Don’t we want to compete with and be at par or exceed the assets our colleagues and peers own? These are questions that expose the foundations of greed in our hearts. Often we find that our salaries and legitimate allowances cannot get us these things we lust after and then we begin to demand and collect bribes and engage in insider-deals just to satisfy a greed that is never satisfied. I had to really assess myself. I tried to find out if I have demanded “appreciation” from anyone because of my position. I find that we do not need to wait to occupy the big executive positions to be affected by greed; no, even a clerk will not forward some critical files to the director if he or she has not been tipped! If I can kill the lions and bears of greed in the position I presently occupy, I’m very sure the Goliath that is defeating others on top will not defeat me. If you know what business men or contractors pass through and how much “settlements” they have to do, you will know that about 20 – 40% of the contract sum goes into the pockets of corrupt project supervisors and company officials. It is so challenging to not want to “cooperate” with this system because you risk not getting the contracts no matter your capabilities and the fact that you made the winning quotes. If you don’t “cooperate” you will run a loss because they will so frustrate and delay the job so you do not meet the deadlines. But let me encourage you, the business man and contractor reading this message in the words of one my friends; “Many are the afflictions of those who decide NOT to “cooperate”, but the Lord delivers them”. The Lord shall deliver you! This problem of official fraud is not a peculiar problem of our country or that of Africa, other countries face these challenges in differing magnitudes. I read an EU survey of European states recently and it reported high levels of corruption and bribes taking in most of their states. Yet there are enormous implications of official fraud. First is that you have a situation where the best hands are not given the job because they won’t bring in enough “appreciation”, so the contract is given to the firm who will use inferior materials and execute sub-standard work but bring in fat “appreciation” packages. The work soon goes bad and spoils and another contract is signed out for repairs or overhaul and the cycle of fraud and corruption continues. Again, most contract sums are inflated to accommodate the “returns” that has to be given to the officials. I submit that Projects office/department and procurement unit is about the most corrupt offices to work in. You discover that even if you do not ask for the “appreciation” package, these contractors will bring it to you because it is assumed that you are just like the others who collect it. But will a Christian stand out and be different? Yes he or she should stand out, though it might be at a cost, we should never allow darkness to cover our light. Hmmm…unfortunately, many Christians do not see anything wrong with collecting the “appreciation” packages and demanding bribes. They think it is one of God’s ways of prospering them. It is sad to hear such words come off the lips of those who also profess to have Christ as Lord and Saviour. We have become so materialistic and covetous to the extent that we cannot examine our ways anymore to see if God is pleased, so far as we have pleased ourselves! I shall endeavour to end this subject, though there is much more that could be said. I want to share these words of God with you so you can let it guide your actions. “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” (Proverbs 15:27). “The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.” (Proverbs 17:23). “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17) Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. (Luke 3:14) “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:6-9). “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10). Dear friend, with all these that has been said, please repent today and choose to do what is right. Avoid fraud of all kinds, be content with your wages and safeguard your soul, your household, your campany and our nation. God bless you as you do this.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 16:48:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015