The Loyalty Game

Lagos woke up to a

000 Monthly Caregiver Contract B

n had fully risen. Within hours, it was trending on X, Instagram, and even the more discre

beneath the polished words, there was

The role is not medical alone. It is human. It demands presence, compassion, discretion,

hree-day retreat. No eliminations, no drama just

t a job. I

ation portal, an official state s

if your hear

in Yaba, Nurse Titi Ayeni stared at

x w

he kitchen. "Six thousand,

million naira." Her voi

again, then laughed bitterly. "Is it c

aid. "You've been taking care of bedridde

on the words 'only th

ya

two years, only for the woman's greedy daughter to accuse her of theft after her mother

her cou

slowly. "May

other, Kayode, who was non-verbal and autistic. The TV played the news st

ing for someone who can stand by a woman with dignity. This

ed the TV

o that," h

arouk looked at his brother, then smiled.

bbed his laptop.

ld Etuk threw his

reat to win a job? What is t

he phone and shrugged. "It's the Governor's mother. Y

gonomic chair. "I'm a trained neurosurgeon, not a contest

d the link on his laptop and star

two and former hospice caregiver, saw the announce

red, and her back screamed. But so

the

"not a tr

ispered, "Lord, if this i

over 4,300 applica

is private office, reviewi

ral," she said, scrolling

esumes. Get me people with heart. Real stories. S

hological profiles. Personality types. Known aff

running sur

on's more paranoid than you. He's a

huckled

in private care. Accused once, cleared. No official endorsements, bu

. "Add her to t

le caring for his disabled brother. Never

ted. "Shor

, narrowing down names. By da

ould be

was symbolic. B

ama's favor

ed candidates had begun receiving encry

Seen. Prepare f

me with three

l items. No aides

ential location by

tem of emotiona

quirement p

books. One candidate brought a scarf her

ere being watched even b

e posts, their calls, the way they celebrate

n long before the

in the garden, blanket over her knees. Tunde

d," he said. "We

aid softly. "Let me watc

uised for the f

led. "P

r face. "You'

," she replied. "B

ok he

ll walk you through the ne

d me a nur

won

. To the last stor