There was a time when the Nigerian government pleaded with its citizens not to “japa” in search of greener pastures abroad. It appealed to their patriotism, urging them to stay and help build the country despite the worsening economic conditions.
Today, that appeal appears to have given way to something else. Rather than addressing the reasons millions of Nigerians continue to leave, some government officials have resorted to portraying those who relocated as people living miserable lives abroad—working menial jobs, struggling to survive, or, in some cases, living like slaves. It is a narrative designed not only to discourage others from leaving but also to deflect attention from the failures that made “japa” an aspiration for so many Nigerians in the first place.
That is why the comments by Daniel Bwala, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, describing care work undertaken by many Nigerians in the United Kingdom as “modern-day slavery” have rightly generated outrage among Nigerians at home and abroad.
The remarks, made during an appearance on the Morayo Show, were not only insensitive but also revealed a troubling misunderstanding of the nature of care work, the realities of migration, and the dignity of labour itself.
According to Bwala, many Nigerian graduates who relocate to the UK, obtain additional qualifications, and work in care homes are engaged in what he considers “modern slavery.”
He further argued that some Nigerians earning between £2,600 and £2,800 monthly in the UK may, in certain respects, be worse off than individuals earning ₦60,000 in Nigeria.
Both claims are deeply flawed. It is a comparison so fundamentally flawed that it collapses under the weight of basic facts.
The first problem with Bwala’s argument is his apparent failure to understand what modern slavery actually means. Modern slavery is a serious human rights violation involving coercion, forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, or situations where individuals are compelled to work against their will under exploitative conditions. It is a term that carries legal, moral, and social significance.
Working in a care home in the United Kingdom does not fit that definition. It has no correlation at all.
Care work is a regulated profession that forms a critical part of Britain’s health and social care system. It involves supporting elderly people, individuals living with disabilities, and vulnerable members of society who require assistance with daily living. These workers are employed under contracts, receive wages, enjoy workplace protections, and have legal rights under UK employment law.
One may debate whether care workers are paid enough or whether immigration policies affecting them are fair. Those are legitimate discussions. But to casually equate care work with slavery is both inaccurate and offensive to thousands of Nigerians who perform these roles with professionalism and pride.
What Bwala appears not to appreciate is that the concept of care itself reflects a society’s commitment to equality and human dignity. In advanced welfare states, the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable are not abandoned or treated as burdens, which is the norm in a country like Nigeria. Instead, systems are established to ensure they receive support, compassion, and professional assistance.
The people who provide that assistance are not slaves. They are essential workers.
Ironically, many Nigerians who work in care homes abroad are doing jobs that expose them daily to the values of inclusion, empathy, and social responsibility—values that remain underdeveloped in many parts of Nigeria.
In Nigeria, families often shoulder the burden of caring for elderly relatives without adequate institutional support. Persons living with disabilities frequently face discrimination, while social welfare systems remain weak and underfunded. Once you are disabled in Nigeria, you are as good as dead except you are from wealthy family or you get financial support from well-meaning Nigerians.
Rather than ridicule those who have chosen careers in care, ignorant folks like Bwala should perhaps learn from societies that invest in systems designed to protect their most vulnerable citizens.
Bwala’s comments are also troubling because they reflect a persistent elitist attitude toward certain professions. There remains a tendency among some members of Nigeria’s political class to rank occupations according to perceived social prestige rather than their actual value to society.
This mindset is dangerous.
A society cannot function without nurses, caregivers, cleaners, drivers, technicians, artisans, and countless other workers whose contributions may not attract headlines but are indispensable to daily life.
Many Nigerian graduates who work in care homes abroad do so not because they lack ambition but because they are responding to economic realities. Some use these jobs as stepping stones toward other careers. Others find fulfilment and long-term professional growth within the care sector itself.
In recent times, care homes are springing up in some highbrow areas in Nigeria, especially Abuja and Lagos. They are quite expensive and designed for working class people who are too busy to cater for the needs of their elderly ones. Will Bwala describe the workers in these care homes as slaves too? There is dignity in honest work, regardless of whether it is performed in Lagos, London, Abuja, or Leicester.
Even more astonishing was Bwala’s assertion that a person earning ₦60,000 in Nigeria could, in some respects, be better off than someone earning £2,500 monthly in the UK. This asinine claim strains credibility.
At current exchange rates, ₦60,000 amounts to less than £35 per month. While cost-of-living differences certainly exist between countries, the suggestion that an individual surviving on ₦60,000 monthly in Nigeria is economically better positioned than someone earning £2,500 in the UK ignores basic economic realities.
What can ₦60,000 salary do in modern day Nigeria especially since May 2023 when President Bola Tinubu hastily announced the removal of fuel subsidy without any concrete plans to cushion the pains? Yet someone earning £2,500 will settle all his bills and still send money to Nigeria to assist his people.
The average Nigerian earning ₦60,000 or ₦70,000 minimum monthly wage faces crushing inflation, rising transportation costs, escalating food prices, unreliable electricity, expensive healthcare, and limited social protections. Such an income barely covers essential living expenses.
By contrast, a worker earning £2,500 monthly in the UK may face higher housing and living costs, but they also operate within an economy that provides stronger legal protections, public services, infrastructure, and earning opportunities.
No serious economic analysis would support the unreasonable comparison presented by Bwala.
Perhaps more importantly, his remarks overlook the immense contributions Nigerians in the diaspora make to the country’s economy.
For years, diaspora remittances have served as a vital lifeline for millions of Nigerian families. These funds support education, healthcare, housing, entrepreneurship, and community development. In many years, remittances have exceeded foreign direct investment inflows into Nigeria. The irony is difficult to miss.
Before writing this article, I called Bayo Onanuga and also sent him a text message to ask whether Bwala’s comments reflected the position of the Tinubu administration, for which he serves as spokesperson. He declined to comment. As of now, the federal government has not issued any statement distancing itself from Bwala’s thoughtless remarks describing hardworking Nigerians in UK care homes as modern slaves.
The same government that actively courts diaspora investments, celebrates remittance inflows, and seeks the engagement of Nigerians abroad now finds itself represented by a spokesperson who appears willing to demean the very people whose hard work sustains many households across the country.
The message this sends is unfortunate.
Nigerians abroad are not enemies of the state. They are citizens who, often frustrated by limited opportunities at home, sought better prospects elsewhere. Many endure separation from their families, cultural dislocation, immigration challenges, and demanding work schedules. Yet despite these sacrifices, they continue to support relatives, contribute to local communities, and maintain strong ties with Nigeria.
They deserve recognition and appreciation.
They do not deserve to be told that their professions amount to slavery like Bwala thoughtlessly did.
Public communication matters because words have consequences. When senior government representatives make dismissive comments about entire categories of workers, they risk alienating communities whose goodwill and support remain important to national development.
This is why Bwala should apologise.
An apology would not be a sign of weakness. Rather, it would demonstrate maturity, humility, and respect for the thousands of Nigerians whose labour he inadvertently disparaged. It would also signal that the Tinubu administration understands the value of the diaspora community and appreciates the dignity of every form of lawful employment.
At a time when Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its relationship with citizens abroad, inflammatory and ill-considered remarks serve no useful purpose. The nation needs policies that encourage engagement, investment, and trust—not rhetoric that belittles people who are striving to build better lives for themselves and their families.
The dignity of labour is a principle that should unite all Nigerians, regardless of where they live or what jobs they perform. Whether one works in a care home in Manchester, a hospital in Birmingham, a technology firm in London, or a market in Lagos, honest work deserves respect.
Daniel Bwala’s comments fell short of that standard.
For the sake of fairness, accuracy, and respect for hardworking Nigerians in the diaspora, he should withdraw the remarks and offer a sincere apology. Nigeria’s diaspora deserves nothing less.
Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of the Daily Independent, writes from the United Kingdom. He can be reached via shabydayo@gmail.com
