Media personality Ariyiike Dimples has shared a disturbing experience from the early days of her career, revealing how a former employer once refused to pay her salary and offered a troubling justification that left her stunned.
Speaking on the Mics and Moments Podcast, Ariyiike said her boss told her that people who live comfortably “don’t collect salary,” claiming that instead of regular pay, she had been given “access to politicians” and was expected to “use [her] brain.
”The remark, she said, implied that she was being encouraged to rely on influential connections rather than honest, legitimate earnings — an expectation she found both demeaning and inappropriate.
Ariyiike also used the interview to highlight broader issues of discrimination in Nigeria’s job market, noting that many qualified young professionals — especially women — face class-based bias and unfair treatment. She recalled hearing remarks suggesting that candidates without foreign accents or privileged backgrounds stand little chance in certain sectors.
According to her, comments such as “If you don’t have an accent or your dad is not IJGB, you’re not getting jobs” reflect a deeper structural problem that sidelines competent applicants in favour of those seen as elitist or well-connected.
Her revelations have sparked widespread conversations online, with many Nigerians applauding her for boldly addressing challenges that countless workers silently endure in the workplace.