Mariam Oyakhilome Blows Hot Over Employee’s Mother’s School Fees Request

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Mariam Oyakhilome has raised concerns over what she described as an unexpected financial demand from the family of a woman she employs.

The content creator explained that she had initially been reluctant to employ the woman because they already knew each other through their families. For her, keeping a professional relationship with someone she knows personally could make it harder to demand the same level of accountability she would expect from an unfamiliar employee.

She said the decision to eventually give the woman the job came after a conversation with her father. According to Mariam, her father advised her to consider the opportunity as a way of helping the woman become financially independent.

She eventually agreed and put the woman on a ₦150,000 salary.

However, Mariam said the amount she spends on the employee goes beyond the basic salary. She explained that she also provides food and that the woman now receives ₦250,000.

The situation took another turn when the employee’s mother reportedly approached Mariam with a request for additional financial assistance. According to the content creator, the request was for her to also take responsibility for the woman’s school fees.

That demand appeared to be the point where Mariam began questioning how far an employer should go when supporting an employee and their family.

She recalled the situation in her own words:

“This is why I don’t like employing people I know. One of my family friends reached out and said she wanted to do the job. I said no, I cannot employ you because I know you.

I want somebody I don’t know, so that I can hold them accountable. I spoke to my dad, and he told me to employ her so she could support herself. So, I put her on a ₦150,000 salary.

“I give her food, then I still pay her ₦250K. Now the mother is calling me to support them and pay her school fees. If na una, una go pay that kind thing? No be see finish be that one?”.

Mariam’s account highlights the difficulty that can come with mixing personal relationships and employment. What began as an opportunity to help someone she knew had, according to her, gradually come with expectations beyond the original employment arrangement.

Her main concern was not simply the amount she was already paying, but where the responsibility of an employer should end. While she had agreed to provide employment and additional support, she questioned whether that should automatically extend to taking care of the employee’s wider family responsibilities.

The situation also explains why she said she preferred hiring people she had no previous relationship with. In her view, keeping a clear boundary between employer and employee can make expectations easier to manage.

For Mariam, agreeing to help someone get a job was one thing. Taking responsibility for the financial needs of the person’s family was another.

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