Should I Disclose My Previous Salary to a Recruiter in Nigeria?

Introduction: One Question That Can Cut Your Future Salary in Half

You finally get to the money part of the process and the recruiter asks:

“What was your last salary?”
“Can you send your previous payslip?”

You freeze. If you tell the truth, you’re afraid they’ll lowball you. If you lie, you’re afraid they’ll catch you. So what should you do?

In Nigeria, there is no law that stops employers from asking for salary history, and no law that forces you to reveal it. Many HR teams ask so they can benchmark or anchor their offer based on what you currently earn, not necessarily what the role is worth.michaelpage+3

This article gives you a clear, practical guide: when to share, when to hold back, and exactly what to say so you don’t price yourself out—or trap yourself in another underpaid role.

Between‑post image idea: Simple illustration showing two scales: one side labelled “Previous Salary”, the other “Market Value”.

Short answer: no.

Nigeria’s current labour laws do not ban salary history questions, but they also do not require you to answer.lawsofnigeria.placng+1
Salary is personal information, not “company property”. It is up to you to decide what you share.facebook
Many recruiters ask simply because it is “how we’ve always done it”, not because the law demands it.linkedin+1

So the real question is not “am I allowed to refuse?” but “how do I refuse (or answer) in a smart way that doesn’t spoil my chances?”

Why Recruiters in Nigeria Ask for Salary History

Understanding their reason helps you decide your response.

Common reasons recruiters ask:nairaland+1

To anchor your offer around your current salary (e.g. you’re on ₦120k, they offer ₦180k even if budget is ₦250k).
To filter unrealistic candidates asking far above their budget.
To justify their offer to management (“We only increased by 20%, it’s fair”).
Sometimes, simply habit or internal policy.

Global research shows that when employers know a candidate’s salary history, it often leads to lower offers for underpaid candidates and helps preserve existing pay gaps. That’s why salary history bans exist in some countries (but not yet in Nigeria).weforum

There are cases where being open is not a bad idea—especially if you’re already in a fair or strong position.

It can help you if:

You’re already fairly or well‑paid for your level and industry.
You’re moving to a larger company or more senior role.
You want to signal that you’re not in the low‑ball zone.

Example:

You currently earn ₦450k as a mid‑level software engineer in Lagos.
You’re interviewing for a similar‑or‑higher role at a reputable tech or fintech company.

You can say:

“I’m currently on ₦450,000 plus benefits. For my next move, I’m targeting something in the ₦600,000–₦750,000 range, depending on the responsibilities and total package.”

Here, sharing your salary:

Shows that other people already pay you well for your skills.
Gives them a clear sense that you’re in the mid–high band, not entry level.

Internal link opportunity: from this section, point readers back to your high‑paying job / salary articles so they can benchmark what “strong” looks like:

What Is the Average Starting Salary for Graduates in Lagos 2026?jobharder

This is where most Nigerian candidates fall.

It usually works against you when:

You are seriously underpaid right now (e.g. ₦70k for a role that should pay ₦200k+).
You’re moving from a small, struggling SME to a bigger, better‑paying organisation.
You’re changing industries or roles (e.g. admin to tech, sales to product) where the market rate is higher than your current pay.

If you say:

“I currently earn ₦80,000.”

And their budget is ₦250k, they might think:

“Great, we can offer ₦150k–₦180k and they’ll still be very happy.”

They anchor you to your past, instead of to the real market value.weforum

This is especially dangerous in Nigeria where many entry roles in Lagos still start below ₦100k even though average formal salaries nationally are much higher.employsome+1

You don’t have to say “It’s none of your business.” You can decline politely and move the conversation back to your expectations and their budget.

Script 1: Soft Decline + Range

“I’d prefer to keep my current salary confidential, but based on my skills and the responsibilities of this role, I’m looking at ₦220,000–₦260,000. Does that fit within your budget?”

Script 2: Focus on Role, Not History

“I generally don’t disclose previous salary, because it doesn’t always reflect the market. I’m more interested in understanding the budget for this role and how I can add value. From my research, I’m targeting around ₦300,000 for a position like this.”

Most reasonable recruiters will accept this and move on to discuss budget vs value instead of interrogating your history.reddit+2

What If They Insist or Ask for a Payslip?

Some Nigerian organisations will push harder:

“It’s company policy; we must know your last salary.”
“We need a payslip for our documentation.”

At this point, it becomes a leverage decision:

If the job is average, the brand is not special, and you have options → You can hold your ground:
“Unfortunately, I’m not comfortable sharing payslips, but I’m happy to discuss my expectations and your budget.”
If the job is a big step‑up (top company, massive career move) and you’re truly underpaid, you might share but reframe it immediately as underpayment:
“I’m currently earning ₦90,000, which is significantly below market for my responsibilities. That’s one of the reasons I’m exploring new roles. For this position, based on market research, I’m targeting ₦220,000–₦250,000.”

Key rule:
Never lie. If they later verify your salary (especially for regulated sectors), a lie can kill the offer instantly.reddit

How Your Answer Should Always End

Whether you choose to:

Share your salary,
Decline politely, or
Reframe it as underpayment,

Your answer should always end with your expected range, for example:

“...for this role I’m targeting ₦X–₦Y.”

Because the real battle is not what you earned, but what you want now.

To choose this range wisely, you should:

Use JobhardER’s starting salary guide and other salary reports to avoid quoting nonsense figures.employsome+1
Consider your city, industry, and skill level.

This ties nicely to your existing article on salary negotiation—inside this post, you can link to:

Internal link suggestion:
How to Negotiate Your First Salary in Nigeria Without ‘Pricing Yourself Out’