Mr. Nonso was in charge of collection money for compound sweeping and waste disposal, where he was living.
Everybody was applauding him for the way he was discharging his duty . But when Mr. Ike packed into the house, he started rubbishing Mr. Nonso’s effort.
They had a WhatsApp group where Mr. Nonso updated the landlord and tenants concerning the income and expenses.
Whenever he drops a message on the WhatsApp group, Mr Ike must have a correction to make and point out the areas he didn’t do well. It was either he complained that updates of payment was not given on time or that the compound cleaner did not collect her salary before the last day of the month.
Though most of the complaints were not necessary, Mr. Nonso would always apologize and move ahead. Majority of the tenants don’t make payments as at when due. Mr Nonso normally use his personal money to make payments. Whenever the tenants pay, he would take.
Mr. Nonso, later left the compound, because his company transfered him to another city.
Immediately he left, the landlord quickly appointed Mr. Ike to take over the work that Mr. Nonso was doing.
Two months after Mr. Ike took over the collection of the money, the compound cleaner was not paid her salary. She complained to the landlord and he invited Mr. Ike for a discussion
“Ike what is happening? The cleaner complained that since Nonso left, she has not received her salary. Even the waste disposal agency has stopped taking our trash because we are owing. What is the matter?”
“The tenants refused to pay,” Mr. Ike told him.
“But they were paying when Nonso was handling it. Why would they not pay now?”
“I don’t know? May be don’t want me.”
“I didn’t think so. You have to find ways to sort things out.”
“No sir. I don’t think that I can continue to do this work. The stress is much. Please, you have to hand over to another person.”
“What did you just say? I am not handing over to another person, you are the best person to do it. You were always criticizing Mr Nonso when he was in charge of it. You even complained that the cleaner was supposed to be collecting her salary earlier than the last day of the month. Even when every other person tried to appreciate him, you must find ways to criticize him. Does it mean that you were saying those things out of animosity?”
“No sir. I was just trying to suggest better ways to handle things.”
” The ball is now in you court. All those solutions you were always giving to Mr. Nonso, you have to put it into practice. If you don’t do it, this house will not contain me and you.”
Mr. Nonso told other tenants to help plead with landlord to relieve him of the duty. They told him that there was no need to beg the landlord because he was the best man for the job.
Always encourage someone’s little effort. You may not really understand what it took to achieve that thing that seems ordinary.