Can you use your child’s school fees to pay your in-law’s hospital bill?

According to the Nigerian culture, one’s in-laws are more or less like one’s family members; hence, it is often expected that one should do for an in-law what one can do for one’s family member. Accepting this notion could, however, be difficult sometimes. For instance, can you use your child’s school fees to pay your in-law’s hospital bill? SATURDAY PUNCH has the answers of some Nigerians

I can if the in-law is a good person

Ifejowo Adeshina

Yes, I can do it, but it is on one condition — the in-law must really be a very good person. I could call my children’s school that they should have patience with me concerning the school fees and I am very sure that they would because they wouldn’t be ready to lose any pupil in their school, especially if I have never owed them before. I’m sure they would understand.

It depends on the urgency of either scenario

Falayi Oluwadunsin

What I would do depends on how urgent either of the two cases is. Paying a child’s school fees might be more urgent than paying a hospital bill and vice-versa. Apart from that, I could only pay an in-law’s hospital bill if the person is responsible and a close person. Paying my child’s school fees would then have to wait. But if it’s an in-law that is not good, my child’s fees would be the priority here.

I can’t because my child is my future

Oyeniyi Oyeyemi

How can I use my child’s school fees to pay for my in-law’s hospital bill? Even though my in-law might think I’m a bad person, I’m not. My child is my future and I shouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that future. I will pay my child’s school fees first and find another means of getting my in-law’s hospital bill paid.

School fees would have to wait

Emegha Anita

Yes, I can use my child’s school fees to pay my in-law’s hospital bill because I can always get the fees later. If you weigh the two scenarios, saving a life is much more important than school fees. One could plead with a school and they would understand, especially if you’re not a debtor, but hospitals hardly accept pleading.

I’ll save my in-law’s life first

Amaso Jack

I believe that my child’s destiny would still be fulfilled whether I pay his school fees on time or not. If I’d never owed the school before, I’m sure my credibility would speak for me. My reputation would be my currency to negotiate with them to save life first. I’d beg the school to allow my child to study even if I had to drop collateral with them. You know everything a man becomes in life depends on relationships powered by prayers, favour and grace. I cannot allow my relationship with my in-law to suffer.

I can pay my child’s school fees later

Ajoke Lawanson

I can pay my in-law’s hospital bill first and delay the payment of my child’s school fees because life is more important than school fees. If I use my child’s school fees to pay my in-law’s hospital bill, that act of humanity would speak positively for me later in life. I’m sure God would provide another money for me to pay my child’s school fees.

Life is more important than school fees

Salau Opeyemi

To be sincere, it would not be too easy to decide when one is confronted with such a situation. But I think for me, health is more important than school fees. I can still get money to pay the school fees later, but you can’t say you want to save a life later. Moreover, an in-law is more or less like a family member. What you can do to a family member, do to them.

If my in-law’s case isn’t critical, I’d pay school fees

Ogunsuyi Rita

If my in-law’s case is not critical, I would pay my child’s school fees first because they are my future. I would prefer to look for another money to pay the hospital bill than having to worry to pay my child’s school fees. It could be embarrassing when a school sends your child back home because he hasn’t paid school fees.

I can’t delay paying my child’s school fees

Alagbe Bukunmi

I won’t use my child’s school fees to pay my in-law’s hospital bill. I would rather look elsewhere where I could borrow money to pay the hospital bill than use my child’s school fees to pay. Paying the school fees must have been planned for and I wouldn’t let an emergency situation to disrupt my plan.