DO YOU SAY “THANK YOU” TO THE BUS CONDUCTOR?
By Onyebuchi Odianjo

For what!? That is the question I guess most of would have asked; this is why. The other day I was heading home on a Danfo bus, and as usual, I began to think and observe. I noticed how people gave the conductor their money- either squeezed, passed with their left hand (which is considered to be rude in Nigeria) or probably pay with some worn off money. And for those who had change to collect, kept shouting and whining continuously at the conductor for it.

However, all the conductor did was collect the money and attended to those who had change without complaining notwithstanding the pressure coming from some passengers. When it got to my turn, I gave the driver 1000 naira, to receive 800 naira in return. At first, he gave me 500 naira and said he would give me my balance soon, I didn’t have an issue with that, so  I said ‘Thank you.’ The conductor looked surprised as to wonder what he did to have been told ‘Thank you.’      

So, when the conductor began to give passengers their change, I noticed he carefully selected three clean 100 notes for me, handed it over and said “Thank you Aunty”; I was also surprised when he said that but hey! it's all about good cheer.  And I learnt few life morals that day.

I discovered that the word “thank you” is easy to say but hardly given.  It is possible that the conductor had worked all day, and nobody appreciated his efforts. It can also be possible that he has a driver who doesn’t appreciate him either. Furthermore,  it could be that everyone who got in and out of the bus that day never said ‘Thank you’. It is possible that I may have been the only person to have said ‘Thank you’ to him.      

These conductors work almost every hour of the day; sometimes, all round the clock. These are people whom we put our lives in their hands every time we hit a ride with them. Have we at least told anyone of them “Thank you” or “well done?” You may ask why? don’t I pay them? Of course you do. But for the sake of human dignity which we all share, I think a simple word as “thank you” isn’t hard to give to Danfo bus conductor or anyone else.     

Almost everyone loves to be appreciated. When we do things for people, even when they can offer anything in return, the list we expect is an expression of appreciation; a ‘Thank you’ at least. That word may be simple but sometimes so hard for a lot of us to say; what those it take? In the end, you never can tell what comes after an expressed appreciation. I got clean notes that day; tomorrow it can be something better. 

Learn to say ‘Thank you’ today.