FAQ: The Unwritten Rules of the Nigerian Tech Workplace

The Golden Rule: Negotiate Net, Sign Gross.
In Nigerian tech, recruiters love to quote Gross Annual Salary because it sounds impressive. "We are offering ₦7.2 Million per annum!" sounds great until you receive your first alert and it is ₦430k, not ₦600k.

The Breakdown (Where your money goes):
1. Pension (8%): This is mandatory. It is deducted from your Basic + Housing + Transport. It goes to your RSA (Retirement Savings Account). You cannot touch this until you are 50 or jobless for 4 months.
2. PAYE (Tax): This is progressive. The first ₦300k is tax-free, but after that, it scales from 7% to 24%.
3. NHF (National Housing Fund - 2.5%): Mandatory for many formal employees. Good luck getting a loan from them, but they will take the money regardless.

Case Study: The ₦600k Gross Offer
If your offer letter says ₦600,000/month Gross:
- Pension: ~₦35,000 (Deducted)
- PAYE Tax: ~₦55,000 (Deducted)
- NHF: ~₦10,000 (Deducted)
- Actual Alert: ~₦500,000.
Advice: Use a Nigerian Tax Calculator (like the one on Paystack or DIY) before you accept. Ask HR: "What will hit my account on the 25th?"

The "13th Month" Myth:
This is not mandatory by Nigerian Labor Law. It is a discretionary bonus. Do not budget your December Detty December spending on it unless it is explicitly written in your contract as "Guaranteed 13th Month Salary."

ESOPs (Employee Stock Options): Paper Wealth?
Startups will often offer lower salary + Equity.
The Reality: Equity in a Nigerian startup is a lottery ticket, not a savings account.
- Vesting: Usually 4 years with a 1-year "cliff". If you leave in Month 11, you get NOTHING.
- Liquidity: You can only sell if the company is acquired or goes public (IPO). This is rare.
Rule: Never trade significant salary (rent/feeding money) for equity. Equity is the cherry; salary is the cake.

"Hybrid" is often a retention strategy, not a productivity one.
Companies often push for "Hybrid" (e.g., 3 days onsite) because they paid for a fancy office in Ikoyi or VI and want to justify the rent.

The "Lagos Factor" Calculation:
If a company in Lekki offers ₦400k (Hybrid) and a company in Yaba offers ₦300k (Remote), which is better?
Let's do the math for the Lekki role (living on the Mainland):
- Uber/Bolt: ₦12k daily x 12 days = ₦144,000.
- Lunch: ₦3k daily x 12 days = ₦36,000.
- Wardrobe/Laundry: ₦20,000.
- Total Cost to Work: ~₦200,000.
- Effective Salary: ₦200,000.
Verdict: The ₦300k Remote job is effectively paying you 50% more than the ₦400k Hybrid job.

Negotiation Tip:
If they insist on Hybrid, ask for a "Commuting Allowance" separate from your salary. Or ask for "Flexi-hours" (10 AM - 3 PM onsite) to avoid the 6 AM Third Mainland Bridge traffic.

"We have comprehensive health insurance."
This phrase is meaningless until you see the plan tier. In Nigeria, HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) have tiers like Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

The "Roam" Trap:
Ask if the plan allows "Roaming" (accessing any hospital on their list) or if you are restricted to ONE registered hospital. If you live in Ikorodu but work in VI, you need Roaming. If you fall sick at work and your registered hospital is 3 hours away, you are in trouble.

Dental & Optical Limits:
Most "standard" plans have a limit of ~₦15k-₦20k per year for dental/optical. That barely covers a consultation and one filling. Do not assume your glasses are covered.

Pre-Existing Conditions:
Many corporate plans have a 1-year waiting period for pre-existing conditions (like asthma or hypertension) unless the company has paid a "waiver" premium. Ask this specifically during onboarding.

"We are a family here."
Translation: We have no boundaries, we will call you on Sunday, and we expect you to work overtime for free because "family helps family."
Reaction: Run. Or set strict boundaries from Day 1.

The "Training Bond":
Some companies will send you on a ₦50k Udemy course and then ask you to sign a bond that says if you leave within 2 years, you owe them ₦2 Million.
Legal Reality: Bonds are enforceable in Nigeria ONLY if the cost is "reasonable and proportionate" to the training provided. If they spent ₦50k and ask for ₦2m, no court will uphold it. However, they can withhold your final salary and make your life miserable.
Advice: Refuse to sign bonds for generic training. Only sign if it is an expensive, recognized certification (like a customized SAP course or flight training).

Intellectual Property (IP) Overreach:
Watch out for clauses that say: "Any invention, code, or idea created by the Employee during the term of employment belongs to the Company."
This means if you build a side project on your own laptop on a Sunday, they own it.
The Fix: Ask to amend it to: "Any invention created during working hours or using company resources."

The Silent Salary Killer.
In Nigeria, as your salary increases, your "family responsibilities" increase exponentially. Cousins suddenly need school fees, uncles need hospital bills, and neighbors need "small 2k."

The "Loud Budgeting" Strategy:
Do not be afraid to say: "I am saving for rent/masters/investment."
The Trick: Automate your savings immediately when your salary hits. If the money is not in your main account, you cannot spend it.

The "Urgency" Filter:
Adopt a policy: "I do not lend money for emergencies unless it is life or death."
Many "emergencies" (like a wedding aso-ebi or a birthday) are actually poor planning. If you bail them out every time, you become the emergency fund.

Setting a Cap:
Allocate a fixed percentage (e.g., 10%) of your income to "Black Tax." Once that budget is exhausted for the month, the answer is "I don't have it right now" (which is technically true, you don't have it *for them*).

Rule #1: The Walls Have Ears.
Do not tell your boss, your "work bestie", or the security guard that you are applying for a visa. Nigeria is a small village. If your boss finds out you are leaving, they may stop investing in you or look for your replacement immediately.

The Timeline:
1. Admission/Job Offer: Celebrate silently. Tell no one.
2. Visa Application: Still silence. This is the most fragile stage.
3. Visa Stamped: Now you can speak.
4. Resignation: Submit your letter.

The "Reference" Trap:
"But I need a reference from my current employer for the new job!"
Solution: Use a trusted senior colleague who is NOT your direct line manager if possible. Or, tell your boss you are applying for a "Remote Contract" or "Professional Certification" that requires a reference, not a full-time job.

The Exit Interview:
Lie.
Do not use this time to "speak your truth" about the toxic culture. It will not change anything, and it might burn a bridge you need later. Say: "I loved my time here, I learned so much, but I have to move on for family reasons." Keep it vague, keep it sweet.

The Law:
Nigerian labor law allows for probation, but the terms must be written. Usually, it is 3 or 6 months. During this time, the notice period for firing you is shorter (often 1 or 2 weeks).

The "Confirmation" Scam:
Some companies "forget" to confirm you. You work for 9 months, thinking you are staff. Then they fire you with 1 week notice because "you are still on probation."
Advice: On the exact day your probation ends, send an email: "Dear HR, as my probation period ended yesterday [Date], I am looking forward to receiving my confirmation letter." Put it in writing.

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators):
Ensure you have written KPIs for your probation. If your goal is "Do a good job," they can fire you for anything. If your goal is "Close 10 tickets a week," and you closed 12, they cannot easily fire you for incompetence.