You've just received an offer email. The salary is lower than you hoped, and a voice in your head says, "Just accept it before they change their mind." That fear is common among first-time job seekers in Nigeria, where graduates often feel there are fifty others waiting for the same role. But a polite, well-prepared negotiation rarely costs you the offer, and it can change what you earn for years, because your next raise and your next employer's offer will build on this number.
This guide shows you how to prepare, what to say, and what to ask for when the base salary won't move. It works for offers from banks, startups, NGOs, multinationals and small family firms, though how much room you have will differ between them.
First, decide whether you should negotiate at all
Most private-sector employers expect some discussion, especially for experienced hires. Rigid pay scales are more common in government agencies, some graduate trainee programmes and large institutions where every entry-level hire gets the same grade. In those cases, the figure may be fixed, but allowances, start date or location sometimes are not.
Ask yourself three questions:
- Is this a set grade? If the advert or HR says all new hires start on one level, push on non-salary items instead.
- Is the company small or growing? Founders often decide pay personally, so there is usually flexibility.
- Do you have a competing offer or a rare skill? If yes, you have more leverage. If no, you can still ask, just with more modest expectations.
Step 1: Research a realistic range
Never name a number you can't defend. Build your range from several sources rather than one:
- Ask people in similar roles. Former classmates, alumni groups, senior colleagues from NYSC and LinkedIn contacts will often tell you a rough range if you ask politely and keep it private.
- Check salary pages and job boards. Treat them as rough guides, since self-reported figures can be outdated or inflated.
- Read the advert closely. Some state a band. If so, you know the ceiling.
- Consider the city. Lagos and Abuja roles usually come with higher transport and housing costs than elsewhere, and employers know it.
From your research, set three numbers: your walk-away minimum (below this, you'd rather decline), your target, and your opening ask, which sits a little above the target so you have room to settle.
Step 2: Work out your real minimum
A number that feels good isn't a number you can live on. Add up your monthly costs: rent or your share of it, transport, data, electricity or generator fuel, food, family obligations, savings. Then compare against the offered take-home pay, not the headline figure.
Hypothetical example: You're offered ₦250,000 gross per month. After pension and tax deductions, take-home is lower. Say your essential costs come to ₦210,000 in Lagos, including ₦70,000 for a room share, ₦45,000 for transport, ₦20,000 for data and power, and ₦75,000 for food and other needs. That leaves almost nothing for savings or emergencies. Your minimum, then, is above ₦250,000 gross, and you have a concrete reason to ask for more. These numbers are made up; use your own.
If you want help with the savings side once you're earning, see our guide to saving money when inflation is high.
Step 3: Understand the full package
Salary is one part of what you receive. Ask for the whole structure in writing before you respond:
- Basic pay versus allowances (housing, transport). Pension and some other contributions may be calculated on parts of your pay, so the breakdown matters.
- Pension contribution and employer's share.
- Health insurance (HMO) and whether it covers family.
- Leave days, paid and unpaid.
- Probation length, and whether pay changes after it.
- Bonuses: are they guaranteed or discretionary?
- Remote or hybrid days, which can save real money on transport.
- Training, certification support, data or laptop allowance.
Check current tax and pension rules with the official bodies or a qualified accountant rather than relying on rumours, because they change.
Step 4: Respond to the offer
Don't accept or reject on the call. Thank them, show enthusiasm, and ask for time. Something like this works:
"Thank you, I'm excited about the role. Could I review the details and get back to you by Friday?"
Reasonable employers agree to a day or two, sometimes longer. If they refuse any time at all, treat that as information about the workplace.
Then send your counter by email so there is a record. Keep it short, warm and specific:
"Thank you again for the offer. I'm keen to join the team. Based on my research for similar roles in Lagos and the skills I'd bring, including [one or two concrete strengths], I was hoping for a gross monthly salary of ₦X. Is there flexibility to move closer to that?"
Notice what's in it: gratitude, a reason, one number, and a question. Avoid ultimatums, and avoid long explanations of your rent problems. Your personal expenses explain your minimum to you, but your value to the employer is what persuades them.
Step 5: Give reasons the employer cares about
Employers respond to what you will do for them. For a first job, you may not have years of experience, but you probably have something:
- Internship or NYSC placement results, with numbers if you have them (for example, "managed the page that grew from 800 to 3,000 followers").
- Skills that cut training time: Excel, SQL, design tools, bookkeeping, a second language.
- Certifications relevant to the role.
- A strong first-class or second-class upper degree, if the employer values it.
- Projects that resemble the job. A portfolio helps, as described in our portfolio guide.
Step 6: If the salary won't move, negotiate other things
Sometimes the answer is "this is the budget." You can still ask for items that cost the company less than cash or that have a real value to you:
| Ask | Why it helps | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Salary review after 3 or 6 months | Puts a date on your next raise | Startups, small firms |
| Hybrid or remote days | Saves transport costs and commuting hours | Tech, marketing, finance |
| Training or certification budget | Raises your future earning power | Almost anyone |
| HMO for dependants | Reduces medical risk | Those with family obligations |
| Shorter probation | Faster access to full benefits | Mid-sized firms |
| Earlier start date | Also later, if you need time to relocate | Any |
Get anything agreed in writing, ideally in the offer letter. A verbal promise of "we'll review it soon" is hard to hold anyone to.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving your current or expected salary first. If asked, say you're looking at the market range for the role and ask what the budget is. If you must answer, give a range whose lower end you'd accept.
- Negotiating by phone only. Follow up in writing.
- Lying about a competing offer. Employers sometimes check, and it can end the relationship. Only mention offers you really have.
- Comparing yourself to friends. Roles that sound similar often differ in hours, location and responsibilities.
- Accepting, then renegotiating. Once you sign, your leverage drops. Raise everything before.
- Paying anyone for the job. A real employer never asks you to pay for an offer, training slot, uniform or "processing". If someone does, it's a scam. Our guide on reporting scams in Nigeria explains where to go.
How it differs by employer type
Banks and large corporates: pay bands are often structured, so expect little movement on base pay for entry-level roles, though you may discuss grade or start date. Startups: more flexibility, but check how reliably salaries are paid and ask about funding stability. NGOs: pay is often tied to donor budgets, so ask about contract length and benefits. Government: generally fixed scales. International remote employers: see our CV guide for remote roles, and note that pay is usually in dollars, so ask how and when you'll be paid. Readers in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa can use the same steps, but check local tax, pension and notice rules, which differ.
Frequently asked questions
Will the company withdraw the offer if I negotiate?
It's uncommon when you are polite and reasonable, though it can happen with very rigid or badly managed employers. If an offer disappears because you asked one respectful question, that tells you something about working there.
How much more should I ask for?
There's no fixed percentage. Anchor on your research and keep the request believable for the role. A modest, well-supported increase is easier to approve than a dramatic one.
Can I negotiate if I'm a fresh graduate with no experience?
Yes, though you'll often have less room. Use internships, projects and skills as evidence, and consider asking for a review date or training support.
What if they say the offer expires today?
Ask politely for even 24 hours. Artificial urgency is sometimes a pressure tactic, and a genuine employer will usually allow a short pause.
Your next step
Today, write down your three numbers (minimum, target, opening ask) and message two people in similar roles to check your range. Then draft your counter email before you need it, so you can reply calmly when the offer arrives.
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.