As governments across the world take stricter measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19, social distancing remains the most effective way to flatten the curve. Over 1.5 million cases of coronavirus have been reported globally and more than 80,000 people have died. The outbreak is not slowing down, at least not anytime soon. This difficult reality makes it seemingly impossible for others to vocalise how the deadly pandemic has affected other aspects of our lives.
With the Nigerian government declaring a two-week shutdown in Nigeria’s economical and busiest states, Lagos and Abuja, more companies are forced to embrace work-from-home policies. This development is expected to represent a major shift in Nigeria’s work culture and overall technological adoption.
There are obvious benefits of working from home, including fostering better work-life balance and easing the toll of long hours in Lagos traffic on workers, but long-standing issues such as constant electricity or water supply, data prices remain significant barriers for the country’s working class. Just a few days into the lockdown, some Nigerians have filled the internet with complaints and comments about their new reality.
Working from home is great, I have an in-house office, so it’s been easy. But i am frustrated, I can’t step out of the house, I can’t see friends and close ones, I can’t even go out to eat.
Media personality and Influencer, Pamilerin Adegoke.
For many Nigerian employees, their offices remain one of the best places where electricity is guaranteed and where personal devices, including power banks and rechargeable fans, are often charged. Working remotely likely means incurring additional costs of powering generators. Then there’s also the problem of internet access costs.
I hate it, I hate the idea of working from home, there is hardly electricity but the frustration of that is nothing compared to how much I spend on data and internet services.
Radio and T.V presenter, Desmond Ekunwe.
Even beyond electricity and internet services, traditional Nigerian companies will also have to revise aspects of their and organizational culture to embrace remote work than actual productivity. During this period, The executive of Lagos state has recorded its first-ever virtual meeting which with the state’s official twitter page tweeting “LASG says 14-day restriction announced by President Muhammadu Buhari will not affect governance in the State… As members of Lagos State EXCO holds a first-ever virtual meeting in the history of governance in the State”.
Attempting to find similar workarounds amid the uncertainty may soon become a necessity for even more companies. Remote work seems like a logical precaution for many companies that employ people in the digital economy especially the new tech companies in the state, but for many, it is still a far-fetch.
I have been often distracted and procrastinating, this is less productive and very slow. Nevertheless, companies are enabling work-from-home structures to keep business running and help employees follow social distancing guidelines.
Filmmaker and AMVCA winner Bola Enigma
If you are working from home here are some tips to help.
- Keep it professional. Even if you don’t have a dedicated office, try to set up a workspace and make it off-limits to the rest of your household while you’re working.
- Be responsive. Get in the habit of sending a prompt reply whenever you get an email, even if it’s just to say, “Got it,” or, “I’ll get back to you by noon. And, do your best to be available for conference calls or other collaborations, even if you don’t have strict work hours.
- Set specific touchpoints with your team. It’s smart to set a time each day/week for regular check-ins with your manager and/or your colleagues. That will not only help you stay accountable, but it will also remind your office counterparts that you’re still an important part of the team
- Structure your day like you would in the office.
With the new enacted strict policies for people to remain at home during the coronavirus pandemic, one thing is certain – these distressing times evolve the culture of the Nigerian workplace for a very long time. “I don’t think we’ll go back to the same way we used to operate.
You can share your own experience in the comment section below.
