A young woman from Ogoni area of Rivers State has narrated how she allegedly lost her job at a hotel after attending a political rally and sharing footage online during her off-duty period.
According to her account, she attended a rally organised for opposition politician Peter Obi in Port Harcourt while she was not on duty. She stated that the following day at work, her employer confronted her after seeing her social media post.
She alleged that despite explaining she was off duty at the time, she was dismissed from her job on the spot and told to “go and meet Peter Obi for employment,” a remark she described as humiliating.
The woman further claimed she earns a monthly salary of ₦18,000, which she described as insufficient for basic living needs. She also stated that the experience pushed her to speak publicly about what she considers unfair treatment of low-income workers.
In her account, she said she was later contacted through intermediaries who reached out after her story circulated. She further alleged that an investigation was carried out into her situation, including verification of her claims and workplace conditions.
Following the development, she was reportedly offered employment at a printing press and subsequently encouraged to pursue further education. She disclosed that she wrote the JAMB examination, gained admission into Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and is currently studying Accounting under a scholarship arrangement that supports her academic and work schedule.
Supporters of the initiative described the intervention as part of broader efforts to assist underprivileged individuals through education and employment opportunities, particularly those facing economic hardship.
The employer involved in the alleged dismissal has not publicly responded to the claims as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has continued to generate debate online about workers’ rights, political expression in private employment spaces, and the vulnerability of low-income earners in Nigeria’s labour market.
