₦50,000 for a Plumber? Is Naija’s Artisan Market Overpriced or Underpaid?

Things are not as they used to be in this country, to be honest. Imagine calling a plumber and he tells you the job is ₦50k. In which Nigerian community is a plumbing fix 50k? Is he fixing the whole neighbourhood?

Many people are not happy with the changes in the price tag for simple fixes. However, we've also found out that many artisans are defending that opinion. In a country where economic hardship is real. Where can we find common ground on this topic?

But this isn’t just about ₦50,000. It’s about a bigger question: Are the artisans overcharging, or are they asking for what their work is worth? How can we tell?

The problem is that the people who provide labour also live in the same society where the cost of living keeps increasing.

In the last 3 to 4 years, almost everything has been 10X the price it used to be. Food, fuel, rent, and even how much we inflate tyres have all seen a dramatic price increase. A plumber who once charged N5,000 for a job now has to factor in higher transport costs, higher materials costs, and the value of their time.

As we ponder that, let's also try to put a price on what it means to offer good, skilled labour. A seasoned plumber, electrician, or carpenter brings years of experience. You're not just paying for a task—you’re paying for the assurance that it will be done well (and hopefully not need fixing again in two days).

Both sides of the conversation carry weight. However, the twist is the inconsistency in pricing and the lack of trust is where the real issue lies.

People who need quality work done never worry too much about how much the services cost. What they need is a long-lasting solution to their problems. How many times have you been quoted a price and then given a mid-job? In some cases, clients end up spending more on fixing a botched job.

The trust factor is killing our artisan industry. For many Nigerians, hiring an artisan is an unpredictable experience. We believe that inconsistency is why many people have the perception of being "overcharged" — not necessarily the price itself, but the doubt around whether it’s worth it.

In the absence of clear standards and accountability, pricing becomes a gamble.

On the flip side, it’s worth acknowledging that many artisans are actually underpaid for the physical labour they perform. A 10-hour day under the sun fixing electrical faults or plumbing a compound is no joke. But as Nigerians we are, some clients try to underprice or haggle them down to the point where it barely covers transport and food.

If you break down ₦50,000 across time, effort, expertise, transport, and tools, it might not even be that outrageous. In fact, most artisans still live hand-to-mouth despite long working hours. So, yes — many of them are not being paid enough for what they do.

How, then, can people pay for quality and get that quality in return?

The artisan market in Nigeria doesn’t need to be a battlefield. It needs structure, trust, and transparency. That’s where a platform like wrkman comes in.

Instead of dealing with random artisans whose skills or integrity you can’t verify, wrkman connects you to vetted professionals. Prices are more transparent, and you can track your job from start to finish. And if something goes wrong, there's an actual system for accountability — something the informal market doesn’t offer.

Even better? You don’t need to worry about overpayment or underpayment. You’re charged fairly based on the job, and both you and the artisan know where you stand. No guesswork. No drama.

It’s the kind of system that gives artisans dignity and gives clients peace of mind. With wrkman you get:

• Reliable professionals

• Over 23 services

• Real-time job tracking

• Escrow payment (We hold your money in safekeeping till the job is done)

• Excellent customer service

• Marketplace for affordable home appliances

We don’t have to keep choosing between overpriced work and underpaid labour. The real problem isn’t always the ₦50,000 price tag — it’s whether that ₦50,000 comes with quality, reliability, and peace of mind. When you book a service through wrkman, it does.

So next time you hear someone say “Imagine paying a plumber ₦50k”, maybe the real question should be: “What are you getting for that ₦50k?”

Need an artisan you can trust? Download the wrkman app and get it sorted. No haggling, no hassle — just real service that works.