Did you know that the most work related expense goes to transportation to and fro work? Most people don’t. Commuting to and fro work can slowly mount up to a very alarming expense on your budget. The worst part is that a lot of people don’t have a budget for transportation. They take the fares for granted especially those who own a car. The cost of fuel or gas needed for a week’s commute might even be more for car owners than for those who use the public transport system.
People who live in busy cities like Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja, Warri and the likes have it even worse especially because of traffic. Commuting costs not only money but time as well. The costs don’t decrease in Nigeria either rather; commuting cost has continually been on the increase with the constant increase in fuel price.
This problem can be directly linked to unemployment that has spiraled into desperation. With the high rate of unemployment in the country, most people tend to settle for any job they get and you can’t blame anyone for that. This might entail jobs that are distant from their homes. These days in Lagos, most companies or establishments will state categorically that you must reside around the environs where their offices are situate before they can consider hiring you. As a matter of fact, I was on my own business minding my business last week, when I got a call, it was a job offer.. I was pleased. So, fast forward to the lady at the other end of the line asking me if I stay on the Island and actually wanting to verify that I do before I could be considered for a job I applied for over 2 years ago. Did she consider that I might have moved? Or if I could afford to live on the Island? But then, everyone can’t be living on the island or Lekki. Even if you do, the traffic mania will still catch up with you so there are no two ways about it.
In turn, this increases the cost of commute on their budget. The closest working distance costs at least N100 to and fro by public transport which is N500 per week and about N2000 a month for those who work 5 days a week. This is however the minimal case as most people spend much more than that on commute.
Cost of commute should be factored in considering a job offer. The closer the distance to work from your house is the better. As a matter of fact, in an ideal world, that is good. We do not live in one.. We have to make adjustments to that order. Consider how the money spent on commute would affect the salary you’re being offered. It won’t hurt to consider other options neither will it hurt to bring the issue of transportation up when negotiating your salary at first. Even better, companies should provide a means transportation for their employees as part of their benefit. the stress that comes from commuting long distance twice daily could easily lead to a burnout which could otherwise have been avoided.
