Benefits Negotiation Checklist
Salary is just one part of compensation. Use this checklist to negotiate a comprehensive benefits package in Nigeria.
Common Benefits in Nigerian Companies
Financial Benefits
- ✓ Housing Allowance: Typical: 20-30% of base salary (negotiate higher in Lagos/Abuja)
- ✓ Transportation Allowance: ₦30,000 - ₦100,000/month or company transport
- ✓ Meal/Lunch Allowance: ₦20,000 - ₦50,000/month
- ✓ 13th Month Salary: Extra month's pay at year-end (common in banking/oil)
- ✓ Performance Bonus: 10-30% of annual salary based on targets
- ✓ Signing Bonus: One-time payment upon joining (for senior roles)
- ✓ Relocation Assistance: If moving to Lagos/Abuja for the role
Health & Insurance
- ✓ Health Insurance (HMO): Coverage for you + dependents (spouse, children)
- ✓ Dental Insurance: Often separate from medical
- ✓ Vision/Optical Insurance: Coverage for eye exams and glasses
- ✓ Life Insurance: Typically 2-3x annual salary
- ✓ Annual Medical Checkup: Paid by company
Retirement & Savings
- ✓ Pension Contribution: Statutory 8% (employer), negotiate additional voluntary contributions
- ✓ Gratuity: Lump sum upon retirement (common in civil service)
- ✓ Staff Savings Scheme: Company matches your monthly savings
Time Off & Flexibility
- ✓ Annual Leave: Statutory minimum 6 working days (negotiate 15-25 days)
- ✓ Sick Leave: Paid days off for illness
- ✓ Maternity Leave: Statutory 12 weeks (negotiate more)
- ✓ Paternity Leave: Not statutory in Nigeria, but increasingly common (3-7 days)
- ✓ Study Leave: Time off for professional exams/certifications
- ✓ Remote Work Options: 1-2 days/week work from home
- ✓ Flexible Hours: Adjust start/end times
Professional Development
- ✓ Training Budget: ₦200,000 - ₦500,000/year for courses and conferences
- ✓ Certification Sponsorship: Company pays for professional certifications (ACCA, CFA, PMP, etc.)
- ✓ Conference Attendance: Annual industry conferences
- ✓ Tuition Reimbursement: For advanced degrees (Master's, MBA)
- ✓ Mentorship Program: Formal career development support
Work Environment & Perks
- ✓ Company Car: Or car allowance (common for senior roles)
- ✓ Fuel Allowance: If using personal vehicle for work
- ✓ Company Phone/Laptop: Work devices provided
- ✓ Internet Allowance: ₦10,000 - ₦30,000/month for remote workers
- ✓ Gym Membership: Company-sponsored fitness
- ✓ Staff Discounts: On company products/services
- ✓ Subsidized Meals: Free or discounted cafeteria
How to Negotiate Benefits
Step 1: Prioritize Your Needs
Rank benefits by importance to you. You can't negotiate everything—focus on your top 3-5.
Step 2: Research Industry Standards
Know what's typical for your industry, role level, and company size in Nigeria.
Step 3: Wait for the Right Time
Negotiate benefits AFTER receiving the job offer, not during interviews.
Step 4: Frame as Win-Win
Example: "I'm excited about joining your team. Could we discuss the possibility of remote work one day per week? I've found this increases my productivity and would allow me to deliver even better results."
Step 5: Get Everything in Writing
Ensure all agreed benefits are in your employment contract or offer letter.
Negotiation Scripts
Housing Allowance:
"Thank you for the offer. Based on the cost of living in Lagos, could we discuss increasing the housing allowance to ₦150,000/month to align with market rates for this role?"
Remote Work:
"I'm very excited about this opportunity. Would there be flexibility to work remotely 1-2 days per week? I've found this arrangement boosts my productivity while maintaining strong collaboration with the team."
Professional Development:
"I noticed professional development wasn't mentioned in the offer. I'm committed to continuous learning and would like to discuss a training budget or sponsorship for industry certifications."
Additional Leave:
"I appreciate the offer. Given my 7 years of experience, would it be possible to increase annual leave from 15 to 20 days?"
When Salary is Non-Negotiable
If the company can't budge on salary, focus on benefits:
- "I understand the salary is fixed. Could we explore additional benefits like [remote work/training budget/extra leave] instead?"
- Negotiate a 6-month performance review with potential for salary increase
- Ask for a higher title (can lead to higher salary in next role)
Red Flags to Watch For
- No written employment contract
- Vague promises ("We'll discuss benefits later")
- Pension contributions below statutory 8%
- No clear leave policy
- Benefits "subject to change without notice"
Total Compensation Calculator
Add up all components to understand your true compensation:
Base Salary: ₦________/month x 12 = ₦________ Housing Allowance: ₦________/month x 12 = ₦________ Transportation: ₦________/month x 12 = ₦________ Meal Allowance: ₦________/month x 12 = ₦________ 13th Month: ₦________ Performance Bonus: ₦________ Health Insurance Value: ₦________ Pension (Employer): 8% of base ₦________ Other Benefits: ₦________ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── TOTAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION: ₦________