West Africa's largest labour market by size
The continent's most populous country is home to bank headquarters, telecoms operators, energy groups and a vast informal sector. Lagos and Abuja attract most formal vacancies. English is the language of recruiters, employment contracts and the civil service.
70,000 naira: the minimum set in 2024
President Bola Tinubu approved this monthly minimum wage in July 2024, above the 62,000 naira initially proposed by the government. According to the presidency, it will now be reviewed every three years instead of every five.
Who monitors pay and incomes in Nigeria
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission works on remuneration, while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment publishes the sector's official announcements. Check their press releases rather than screenshots circulating on messaging apps.
Reading the NBS unemployment rate
The National Bureau of Statistics measured unemployment at 4.3% in the second quarter of 2024 in its labour force survey. This rate reflects neither underemployment nor the insecurity faced by the many workers in the informal economy.
Nigerian banking, fintech and financial services
Nigerian banks still dominate the 2025 ranking of African finance champions published by Jeune Afrique, and Access, FNB and Zenith lead in West Africa. The roles involved are described in our banking and finance page.
Energy: electrification and private projects
According to the AfDB, more than 4.5 million Nigerians have been connected to electricity through the private sector under Mission 300. Engineers, solar technicians and project managers are covered in the mining, oil and energy section.
Digital skills in demand in Lagos
The AfDB cites the I-DICE programme in Nigeria among its initiatives for digital entrepreneurship. Developers, data analysts and product specialists will find further pointers in our IT and telecoms guide, including on remote work.
Jobberman, a very active general job board
On 9 October 2026, Jobberman Nigeria listed 4,212 vacancies, 148 of them remote, with adverts posted the same day. For senior roles, JobnetAfrica is a useful complement. Compare with other recruitment sites in Africa.
R2A visa: the expatriate's route
The Employment Visa (Expatriate), code R2A, requires an Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior. The employer receives a letter of acceptance, then the employee applies to the embassy for an STR visa valid for 90 days, which cannot be extended.
CERPAC: regularising your stay locally
Once in Nigeria, the expatriate regularises their status and obtains the CERPAC, a combined residence card valid for two years and renewable, through an online portal. They may only work for the sponsoring employer: consult immigration before any change of employer.
Looking at Ghana as well
Regional candidates often compare with the Ghanaian market, which is also English-speaking. French speakers may prefer a first job in a neighbouring French-speaking country, then aim for Lagos with stronger professional English and recognised experience.
Nigerian labour law: be careful with the texts
The Labour Act in force and the exact title of the 2024 minimum wage law have not been verified for this guide. For a specific question about a dismissal or a contract, consult a lawyer admitted to the Nigerian bar.
Official bodies and job sites in Nigeria
- Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment: Federal ministry for labour and employment, which publishes the sector's official announcements.
- National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission: Federal commission responsible for salaries and incomes, useful for following how the national minimum is applied.
- National Bureau of Statistics: Statistics office that publishes the quarterly labour force survey and the unemployment rate.
- Nigeria Immigration Service – visa R2A: Official page describing the expatriate employment visa, the STR visa and regularisation.
- Portail e-CERPAC: The immigration service's online platform for the CERPAC foreign resident card.
- Jobberman Nigeria: Nigerian general job board: 4,212 vacancies listed on 9 October 2026, 148 of them remote.
- JobnetAfrica: Vacancies for local and expatriate managers in Africa, with an executive search service.
Steps to landing a job in Nigeria
- Create a complete profile on Jobberman and set up alerts by city, notably Lagos or Abuja.
- Write a two-page CV in English, with measurable achievements and key skills at the top.
- Target active sectors such as banking, telecoms, energy and digital, and their official careers pages.
- Prepare for multi-round interviews, sometimes preceded by online aptitude tests.
- As a foreign national, check that the employer holds an approved Expatriate Quota before resigning elsewhere.
- Apply to the embassy for the STR visa, then for the CERPAC on arrival, within the stated deadlines.
Key employment figures for Nigeria
| Indicator | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| National minimum wage | 70,000 naira per month | State House, 18 July 2024 |
| Review frequency of the minimum | every 3 years | State House, July 2024 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | NBS, Q2 2024 |
| STR visa validity | 90 days, not extendable | Nigeria Immigration Service, 2026 |
| CERPAC validity | 2 years, renewable | Nigeria Immigration Service, 2026 |
| Vacancies on Jobberman Nigeria | 4,212, including 148 remote | snapshot of 9 October 2026 |
File to prepare for working in Nigeria
- CV and cover letter in English
- Certified degrees and transcripts, translated into English if necessary
- Offer letter or contract from the Nigerian employer
- Letter of acceptance linked to the approved Expatriate Quota
- STR visa issued by the Nigerian embassy
- Valid passport and passport photos for the CERPAC application
Common mistakes made by candidates in Nigeria
- Responding to an offer that demands training or processing fees before the interview: fake recruitment scams are widespread online.
- Entering Nigeria on a business or tourist visa in order to take up salaried employment.
- Letting the 90-day STR visa expire without having started regularisation and the CERPAC application.
- Changing employer while keeping the same CERPAC, even though the holder may only work for their sponsor.
- Confusing the national minimum wage with the pay scales of large companies, which are often negotiated well above it.
What candidates ask about Nigeria
What is the minimum wage in Nigeria in 2026?
The national minimum approved in July 2024 is 70,000 naira a month. The presidency announced a review every three years; check with the Ministry of Labour whether a new amount has been adopted since then.
How do I get a work visa for Nigeria?
The employer must first obtain an Expatriate Quota from the Ministry of Interior. The employee then applies to the embassy for a 90-day STR visa, before regularising their stay locally by obtaining the CERPAC, valid for two years.
What is the CERPAC?
The Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card is the residence card for foreign nationals employed in Nigeria. Valid for two years and renewable, it is applied for through the immigration service's online portal and remains tied to the sponsoring employer.
What is the best job site in Nigeria?
Jobberman has the most listings among the verified sites: 4,212 vacancies on 9 October 2026, including 148 remote roles. JobnetAfrica complements it for management positions, and the careers pages of large companies remain essential.
What is the unemployment rate in Nigeria?
The NBS published a rate of 4.3% for the second quarter of 2024 in its labour force survey. This figure reflects neither underemployment nor the insecurity of the informal economy, which affect a large share of workers.
Official sources
State House – salaire minimum de 70 000 nairasstatehouse.gov.ng
Agence Ecofin – chômage au Nigeriaagenceecofin.com
BAD – perspectives économiques du Nigeriaafdb.org
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.