Is ₦70,000 Fair for a Live-In House Help Working 14 Hours a Day?

House-help discussions often divide people into two camps. Some employers believe ₦70,000, food and accommodation make a fair package. Many live-in workers say the arrangement leaves them exhausted, with no clear closing time, weekends or personal life. A typical live-in cleaner or nanny may start before 5:00 a.m. and finish after 10:00 p.m. Between childcare, cooking, cleaning, errands and unexpected requests, the role can amount to about 87 hours a week or 348 hours a month. That is more than twice the hours of a standard full-time job. The real issue is not only the monthly pay. It is unrestricted availability. When duties, work hours and rest periods are not agreed from the start, workers can feel trapped while employers feel they are offering a generous package. Live-in domestic work needs clear duties, off-duty hours, regular rest days and agreed overtime pay. Does free accommodation make up for long hours, or should domestic workers be treated like every other employee?

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