Your rent went up, transport costs more than it did last year, and your salary hasn't moved. Before you resign in frustration or sulk at your desk, there is a third option: ask for a raise properly. Most people in Nigeria never do, because it feels rude or risky. Done well, it is neither.
This guide walks you through timing, evidence, the exact conversation, and what to do when the answer is no. If you are negotiating a brand new offer instead, read our post on negotiating your first salary offer in Nigeria.
First, separate two different requests
People mix these up, and it weakens their case.
- A cost-of-living adjustment. You do the same job, but prices have risen. This is a fair conversation, but employers often answer with "everyone is feeling it" and a budget excuse.
- A performance or responsibility raise. You are delivering more, or doing a bigger job than the one you were hired for. This is much easier for a manager to approve, because it is tied to value.
Lead with performance. Mention inflation only as background, never as your main argument. A manager can say no to "I'm struggling." It is harder to dismiss "I now handle three clients' accounts and cut turnaround time."
Pick your timing
Good moments:
- After you finish a visible win, such as closing a big sale, launching a project or fixing a recurring problem.
- Before budgets are set. In many companies this is the last quarter of the year or just before the new financial year. Ask your manager when planning happens, and raise the topic a few weeks earlier.
- During a formal appraisal, if your company runs one.
- When your role has grown, for example after a colleague left and you absorbed their tasks.
Bad moments: right after a mistake, during layoffs or a cash crunch, on a day your manager is clearly under pressure, or in a hallway with other people listening.
As a rough guide, if you have been in the role under about six months and have no new responsibilities, you will find it hard to make a strong case. That is a judgement call, not a rule.
Build your evidence file
Spend a week gathering proof. Write it on one page.
- What you were hired to do. Check your offer letter or job description.
- What you do now. List tasks you picked up beyond that.
- Results with numbers. Sales closed, complaints reduced, hours saved, errors cut, people trained, money saved.
- Positive feedback. Emails or messages from your manager, clients or colleagues. Keep screenshots on your personal device only if company policy allows it; otherwise just note the dates.
- Market information. What similar roles pay elsewhere. Use job adverts that state pay, honest conversations with peers in your field, and recruiters. Do not quote a figure you can't back up.
Worked example (hypothetical)
Ada is a customer support officer at a Lagos logistics firm, earning ₦250,000 monthly. Eight months ago, her team lost a member and was never replaced. Since then she has handled about a third more tickets, trained two new hires, and written a short guide that, by her own count, reduced repeat questions. Her manager praised her in a team email.
Ada's one-page file lists those four points. She then checks pay for senior support roles from advertised listings and finds a range above her current pay. She decides to ask for ₦300,000, a 20% increase, knowing she would accept ₦280,000 or a title change with a review date. These numbers are made up to show the method; your own figures will differ.
Decide your number and your fallback
Before you speak, settle three figures:
- Your ask. Slightly above what you'd be happy with.
- Your acceptable outcome. The figure you'd say yes to.
- Your walk-away point. The point at which you start looking elsewhere seriously. You don't announce this, but you should know it.
Also list non-salary options in case cash is tight: a promotion title, a transport or data allowance, remote or flexible days, paid training or certification, health insurance upgrades, or a written date for salary review.
Have the conversation
Step 1: Request a proper meeting
Send a short message: "Could we schedule 20 minutes this week to discuss my role and compensation?" This gives your manager time to prepare and signals you are serious. Don't spring it on them at the end of a busy meeting.
Step 2: Open with value, not need
Say something like: "Over the past eight months my responsibilities have grown. I'd like to walk you through what I've been doing and discuss adjusting my pay to match."
Step 3: Present your evidence calmly
Spend two or three minutes on your results. Keep it factual. Avoid comparing yourself to named colleagues, and avoid complaining about the company.
Step 4: Make the ask clearly
"Based on this and what I'm seeing in the market, I'm asking for a monthly salary of ₦300,000." Then stop talking. The silence feels long, but let your manager respond.
Step 5: Handle the likely replies
| What you hear | A useful response |
|---|---|
| "The company can't afford it right now." | "I understand. Can we agree a review date, say in three months, with clear targets that would justify the raise?" |
| "Everyone is facing the same economy." | "That's true, and I'm not asking only because of prices. My scope has changed, and I'd like my pay to reflect that." |
| "I need to speak to HR or management." | "Of course. When can I expect an answer? I can send you my summary in writing to help." |
| "Be patient, you'll be rewarded." | "I appreciate that. What would I need to achieve, and by when, to be considered?" |
| A smaller raise than you asked | "Thank you. Could we meet halfway, or add the difference as an allowance or a review in six months?" |
Step 6: Follow up in writing
Within a day, email a thank-you that restates what was discussed and any dates agreed. Verbal promises get forgotten. A written note creates a record you can point to later.
Common mistakes
- Threatening to resign when you don't mean it. If they say "go ahead," you are stuck. Only mention other offers if they are real and you are ready to take them.
- Making it personal. "I have school fees and rent" invites sympathy, not a raise. Keep to your contribution.
- Asking by chat message only. Serious conversations belong in person or on a call.
- Comparing yourself to coworkers' pay. It breeds resentment and your information may be wrong.
- Going over your manager's head first. Start with your direct manager unless they are the problem.
- Vague asks. "Please consider me" gets nothing. Name a figure or a range.
When the answer is no
A no is information. Ask what specifically stands between you and a yes, and get that in writing if possible. Then decide:
- If there is a clear path and a date, work towards it and diarise the follow-up.
- If the reasons are vague and repeated for a year or more, begin quietly updating your CV. Our guide to writing a CV Nigerian recruiters notice will help you show your new scope clearly.
- Apply for jobs while still employed, and be careful with fake adverts that ask for fees; see how to spot recruitment scams.
Often the strongest raise comes from a new employer, because they price you by your market value rather than your old salary. That is not disloyalty; it is how many careers grow.
Differences by workplace
- Small private business: The owner decides, so the conversation is personal. Show how your work affects their revenue or saves their time.
- Large company or bank: Pay sits in bands and grades. Ask what band you are in and what moves you to the next one.
- Government or civil service: Pay follows fixed scales, so individual negotiation is limited. Ask about promotion exams, steps and allowances instead.
- Ghana, Kenya and South Africa: The approach works the same way. Check local pay data and employment rules in your country, since notice periods and contract norms differ.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I ask for a raise?
Once a year is reasonable, or sooner if your role clearly changed. Repeating the request every few months without new results weakens your credibility.
Should I mention inflation?
Briefly, as context. Your main case should be your results and scope.
What if I'm a junior employee?
Focus on reliability, learning speed and any extra tasks you now handle. Ask what skills would move you to the next level and pay band.
Is it safe to mention a competing offer?
Only if it is genuine and you would accept it. Some employers match; many do not, and the relationship can change afterwards.
Your next step
This week, write your one-page evidence file and send your manager a request for a 20-minute meeting. Once the page is written, the conversation gets much easier.
Always apply through the employer's official website or verified channels. Genuine employers never ask applicants to pay for a job, training, or an interview.