The value of work in Nigeria with reference to laborem exercens

Work is seen by many thinkers as the fundamental dimension of man`s existence on earth. Through work, he provides his basic necessities on earth and co-operate with God in the work of creation. He received this mandate to work from the very beginning of creation by God. In carrying out this mandate, man every human being reflects the very action of the creator of the Universe. God worked and intended that man who is created in His image and likeness continues the work of creation by working. Even though Man suffers and sweats through work and yet, in spite of all this toil-perhaps in a sense because of it – work is a good thing for man. It is not only good in the sense that it is useful or something to enjoy; it is also good as being something worthy, that is to say something that corresponds to man's dignity that expresses this dignity and increases it. This project examines man as a creature called to work and born into work. It is true that through work, man provides himself and his family with the basic necessities of life and everyday needs for the reason he charges wages for his sweat. Work goes beyond and should exceed the boundaries of the material benefit that comes out of it to the satisfaction and fulfilment for the very purpose we should work. The modern society has attached so much importance to money and material possession, the question then is how do we go along working in the spirit of improvement and renewal of the earth? The modern man understands work only as a means of making his daily bread. For this reason, he engages himself in an occupation that he has little or no interest in. He ends up quarrelling everyday with the people that he or she is supposed to serve through work. The result is low work output and waste of talents and the society loses an opportunity for improvement as every creature is supposed to contribute uniquely. A good example is Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with a population estimate of about over 170,000,000 people and the sixth Oil producing Nation.