By Okem Green Mbah, Yenagoa; Achor Abimaje, Jos; Emmanuel Mgbeahurike, Owerri; Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti and Richard Ndoma, Calabar
The growing wave of insecurity and worsening economic hardship across Nigeria are steadily reshaping the culture of employing domestic maids in many homes, particularly among working-class families and career mothers.
Across several states, findings by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that increasing cases of theft, child abuse, kidnapping and other crimes allegedly linked to domestic workers have heightened fears among households, forcing many families to either abandon the practice or adopt stricter screening measures before employing anyone.
Many respondents noted that both strangers and familiar faces are now viewed with suspicion amid the prevailing security challenges in the country.
“Both strangers and known persons are now being viewed as prospective criminals because of the situation in the country. Nobody wants to take chances anymore, even when they genuinely need their services,” a respondent told our correspondent.
The fear, many residents said, has been fuelled by recurring reports on social media and in mainstream news of domestic aides accused of stealing, abusing children, poisoning employers or collaborating with criminal gangs.
Others blamed the situation on the absence of proper background checks, pointing out that many families still rely on informal recruitment through relatives, villages and unregulated agents, making it difficult to properly verify the identity and integrity of domestic workers.
Some respondents also argued that poor treatment of domestic staff, including overwork, underfeeding and abuse, sometimes creates resentment that may lead to retaliation or hostility within homes.
In Bayelsa State, Mrs Pauline Oyibe said many families around her have stopped employing domestic maids because of financial pressure and security concerns.
“Most people I know are no longer hiring domestic maids. In the past, I brought in my relatives to help me, but as my children grew older, I found it difficult to bring in another person because of the economic hardship.
I also know neighbours who had to sack their house help because there was no money to keep them,” she said.
According to her, many parents now prefer keeping their children in schools or crèches until after work hours instead of engaging in house help.
“If things were normal, people would still hire maids to look after their children. But now, many parents see it as cheaper and safer to keep their children in school until they return from work,” she added.
Another respondent, Mrs Aqua Akpuruku, said despite the prevailing insecurity, many working-class women and career mothers still depend on domestic maids because they have limited alternatives.
“Insecurity has made people scared because you do not really know who you are leaving your children with.
We hear stories every day about abuse, kidnapping and even killings involving relatives and trusted persons. But many women still hire maids because they have no choice. They just keep trusting God for the safety of their children,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Juliet Uyabara said many families now pay closer attention to the background and identity of domestic workers before employing them.
“People are now more careful than before. Most families try to verify the identity of maids through recommendations, guarantors or trusted agents.
The economic situation and busy work schedules still make domestic help necessary for many homes, but insecurity has made people more cautious in the hiring process,” she stated.
In Plateau State, several residents of Jos South Local Government Area expressed strong opposition to the idea of hiring domestic maids.
