By Isa Abdul

Economic crunch is gradually reshaping the Nigerian economic landscape, particularly the formal employment system.

According to the Punch, businesses are abandoning traditional fixed salary structures as employers are moving their workers, entirely or partially, to commission-based remuneration models. This is shifting the burden of low sales directly onto their staff.

From retail outlets to tech startups and manufacturing firms, the narrative is uniform: if you do not bring in revenue, you do not get paid.

This is a new survival switch

Years back, monthly pay was the golden standard of employment security in Nigeria.

But with business patronage slowing to a crawl, companies say maintaining a high wage bill is no longer sustainable.

“We had no choice,” says Mr. David Amaechi , the Managing Director of a mid-sized consumer electronics retail chain. He continued that:

“Our foot traffic has dropped by more than 40 percent compared to last year.

“People are prioritizing food and fuel over gadgets.

“We were faced with two options: either shut down operations entirely and lay off all 25 employees, or transition them to a performance-based system.

“We chose to keep them on, but now, a base salary only covers basic transport, while 70 percent of their take-home pay relies purely on the volume of goods they sell.”

He explained that while the decision was painful, it has kept his business afloat.

“It forces the team to be aggressive, but more importantly, it aligns our expenses directly with our actual revenue.

“If the business doesn’t make money, we cannot afford to pay out millions in fixed wages.”

While business owners view the move as an innovative emergency cushion, employees describe it as a fast track to financial insecurity.

With the cost of transportation, housing, and utilities skyrocketing, an unpredictable paycheck is pushing many urban workers to the brink.

Chioma Nnaji, a sales representative at a drycleaning service company, shared her recent struggles under the new payment structure.

“Two months ago, management announced that our basic salary was being cut by 60 percent, and the rest would be made up via a five percent commission on a number of clothes washed.

“But the customers are simply not coming. Some days, we don’t make a single sale.

“Those that come leave their clothes for months before coming to collect them.

“Last month, I went home with less than half of what I used to earn. My rent is due, food prices are rising daily, and I cannot even predict what I will earn next week.”

Labor experts warn that this trend could trigger widespread job dissatisfaction and a mental health crisis among the workforce.

The pressure to convert window-shoppers into paying clients in a depressed economy is turning workplaces into high-stress environments.

Economic analysts note that while commission structures are standard practice in sectors like real estate and insurance, their sudden adoption in conventional retail, hospitality, and corporate services reflects a deeper structural crisis.

“What we are seeing is the informalization of formal employment,” Dr. Abiodun Shonubi, a labor economist, said.

“Employers are effectively outsourcing their market risks to their employees. When consumer patronage slows because disposable income has been wiped out by inflation, it is unfair to penalise the floor worker who has no control over macroeconomic policies.

“While it helps businesses survive short-term cash flow crunches, it ultimately dampens aggregate demand because workers have less money to spend, creating a vicious cycle for the economy.”

However, given the scarcity of alternative job openings, many employees feel powerless to challenge the changes.

As the business landscape remains volatile, the commission-based salary model appears poised to stay.

For Nigerian employers, it is a necessary life support machine. For the average worker, it is another heavy layer of uncertainty in an already challenging economic climate.

By Nick Ibe

A call to reduce food waste and adopt sustainable practices to protect the environment has been made by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in a message marking the 2026 World Cleanup Day.

The day was observed on Sunday with the theme, “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.”

She said the focus on food waste was particularly apt as climate change, conflicts and other global challenges continue to disrupt food production and supply. In her words:

“This year’s focus on food waste is particularly important at a time when climate change, conflicts, and other global challenges continue to disrupt food production and supply.”

She urged Nigerians to become more responsible in how they purchase, prepare, consume, and preserve food.

“I encourage households, businesses, and communities to reduce food waste, dispose of refuse properly, and adopt more sustainable practices that protect our environment,” she added.

Tinubu said collective efforts were needed to build cleaner and healthier communities for present and future generations.

“Through our collective efforts, we can build cleaner, healthier communities for present and future generations,” she said.

By Felix Umande

The Management of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) has held discussions with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) on moves to recover and prevent the sale of Benue Hotels Limited.

Benue Hotels Limited was leased to Luxurium Leisure Services in 2012, following which the company obtained a N488 million facility at first instance and another N630 million, all from NEXIM Bank, for the remodelling and development of the hotel.

The Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the lease agreement and subsequent release of a Certificate of Occupancy to Luxurium Leisure Services, describing the process as administrative fraud.

The GMD said no Executive Council approval nor board resolution were given even though Benue State Government holds a 75 percent majority share via BIPC while Nigerian Hotels Limited holds a 25 percent minority share.

Dr. Asemakaha also disclosed that during the loan process, NEXIM Bank failed to obtain the owner’s signature, approvals, owner’s board resolution and search report on the collateral, thereby failing to carry out due diligence obtainable in financial dealings.

He stressed that the state government would not allow the property to be sold, emphasizing the importance of protecting government assets for the benefit of the people of Benue.

The Group Managing Director presented four proposals on behalf of the state government to NEXIM Bank for consideration, including the expiration of the lease by next year, payment of 48 percent of the loan to NEXIM Bank to recover the hotel for not doing due diligence, and sharing the risk associated with the outstanding facility on a 50:50 basis as both parties must bear losses on the transaction.

Asemakaha also raised concerns over the utilisation of the funds earlier obtained by Luxurium Leisure Services, promising that BIPC would investigate how the loan facilities were expended.

According to him, information presented by the manager of Luxurium Leisure Services indicated that only one facility and a swimming pool were added to the hotel, while most of the other works carried out amounted to minor renovations.

He reiterated the vision of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Executive Governor of Benue State, to recover all properties of the state, warning all persons with government assets to return them for the benefit of the state.

Responding, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of NEXIM Bank, Umoru Gubio, said the bank would carefully consider the proposals presented by the Benue State Government and communicate its position.