A cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Josephine Ugwu, has received an increment in her monthly allowance to the tune of N7, 200 after returning a passenger’s luggage which contained a sum of about N12 Million.
She is an employee of Patovilki Cleaning Services, a concessionaire company working for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
The graduate of National Diploma from Our Saviour Institute of Science, Agriculture and Technology, Enugu, was earning N7,800 and now earns N15,000 due to her sincerity and good work ethics.
However, some of Ugwu’s colleague on Monday, March 17, 2015 expressed disappointment that the government failed to notice such a rare act in today’s corrupt society.
Punch reports stated that they argued that a society that was quick to mete out punishment to offenders should also be quick to reward exemplary behaviour.
One pf them who preferred anonymity said, “Some people have abused her and called her a fool for returning the bag. It now looks as if what she did was wrong.
“Most people will not be motivated to follow her lead when faced with similar situation. The government should have, at least, sent her a commendation letter for what she did.”
Recalling that it was not the first time Ugwu returned the luggage of passengers, another colleague who simply identified herself as Faith also expressed her disappointment on how good works go unrewarded.
Faith said, “Twice in December 2014, she returned passengers’ luggage with huge sums of money in them.
“One contained about N600,000 and the other had close to N2m. if it were to be a case of stealing and she was caught, I am sure the government would have been quick to send her to jail.”
On her part, the cleaner who maintained that she would not reject a compensation, the cleaner affirmed that she does not have any regret for her deeds as a good name would always be better than riches.
She said, “I believe that a good name is better than riches. This incident has taken my name far and wide and I am happy that it is for a good cause. God’s reward is the ultimate, but if the government will give me a proper job as promised, I will be happy.
“My company on its part has tried and I am grateful for the management’s action. My salary has been increased and I have also been promoted.”
Ugwu’s supervisor, Mrs. Eunice Anumudu, lauded her for and indulged people to emulate her to make our society a better place.
She said, “What she did is worthy of emulation. Many people in her shoes would have done otherwise. She is a role model to her colleagues and to all Nigerians. I will be happy if the government can do something to encourage her.”
