Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, how are the teachers and staff at Stardom able to afford cars?

Answer Details

The teachers and staff at Stardom Schools are able to afford cars because they have taken loans from the school's cooperative society. When the MD investigates how her staff could own so many vehicles despite their salaries, the school accountant explains that the cooperative society provides loans to members, with repayments deducted directly from their monthly salaries.

This cooperative lending system allows staff members to make large purchases (such as cars) that would otherwise be beyond their immediate financial reach. The cooperative collects regular contributions from members and then lends from its pool of funds. The arrangement is convenient for staff because loan repayments are handled automatically through payroll deductions.

However, this discovery alarms the MD and leads to a board meeting about the cooperative's activities, as the scale of lending raises concerns about the financial risks involved. The staff are not receiving bribes, earning high salaries, or running side businesses; the cooperative is the mechanism that enables their car purchases.