How To Write A Letter Requesting Salary Increment (Step-By-Step, With Samples)

You write a one-page formal letter. You state your achievements. You request a specific new figure. You keep it respectful and evidence-based.

That’s how you ask for a salary increment in Nigeria. No long story. No emotional blackmail.

Why Nigerian employers still want it in writing

Most Nigerian workplaces love paper trails. Banks, schools, hospitals, tech startups. They want your request documented. HR files it. Your boss forwards it. Finance approves it.

A verbal request disappears. A written request stays. It shows you’re serious. It shows you’re professional. It also protects you.

I see many people beg for a raise in corridors. That rarely works. A letter forces you to prepare data. It helps your manager defend your case.

How it differs from a chat with Oga

A chat is informal. A letter is official. Many companies in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt require written requests. Especially multinationals and government MDAs. Some SMEs accept email. But the structure remains the same.

This guide isn’t legal advice. For labour rights, check the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and your contract. I, David Atulegwu, reviewed this to keep it practical, not legal.

Who needs this letter

You do if any of these fit.

• You’ve worked 12 months without a raise. Inflation has moved. Your pay hasn’t.
• Your role has expanded. You now manage people or projects.
• You hit clear targets. Sales, collections, student results, uptime.
• You got a new qualification. ICAN, CIPM, COREN, TRCN.
• You’ve stayed loyal. Others job-hop. You stayed.
• You’re a contract staff now made permanent. Or NYSC retained at PPA.

It applies across sectors. Teachers at private schools in Enugu. Nurses at private hospitals in Ibadan. Customer care reps at telcos. Developers at Yaba startups. Civil servants need a different channel, but the letter logic still helps. Check your State Civil Service Commission rules first.

When to send it

Timing can kill your request. Don’t send it on salary day. Don’t send it when company just posted losses.

Best times:

• After a strong appraisal cycle. Your results are fresh.
• After you closed a big deal. Or finished WAEC marking, audit, accreditation.
• After 12 to 18 months on same salary. That’s standard here.
• When company just increased prices or fees. Revenue is up.
• Before annual budget planning. Usually Q4, September to November.

Worst times: During layoffs. Right after a query. When Oga is dealing with regulators.

Situation	Best Time to Send	Why It Works
Just completed major project	Within 1 week of delivery	Value is visible and fresh
Worked 1 year, no review	After your 12-month anniversary	You have a clear tenure reason
New duties added	After 2-3 months doing new role	You have proof, not promise
Company doing well	After half-year results or fee review	Budget is more flexible
Cost of living spike	After NBS inflation report	External data supports you

If you work in public service, your timing follows promotion cycles. Don’t use private sector timing for civil service. Always confirm from your HR manual.

Information to include

Keep it tight. One page max. Include these eight things.

• Your full name, department, staff ID, date employed.
• Current salary and how long you’ve earned it.
• Your key achievements with numbers.
• Extra responsibilities you’ve taken.
• Market rate for your role in your city.
• Exact figure or percentage you’re requesting.
• Commitment to stay and deliver more.
• Thank you and request for a meeting.

Don’t beg. Don’t threaten. Don’t lie about offers you don’t have.

Include This	Avoid This
Results: Grew deposits by 18% in 6 months	Vague: I work very hard daily
Data: Average pay for role is N250k in Lagos	Comparison: Tolu earns more than me
Specific ask: Request N220k from N180k	Open-ended: Pay me what you think
Tone: Respectful and professional	Tone: Angry, emotional, entitled
Commitment: Ready to lead new branch rollout	Threat: I will leave next week

Need benchmarks? Check salary negotiation tips on MyJobMag. Also check career advice articles on Jobberman for local pay ranges.

Step-by-step instructions

Here’s how I coach staff to write it.

Step 1: Gather your evidence.

Pull your last appraisal. Pull sales sheets. Pull exam pass rates. Pull client feedback. Save them as PDFs. Numbers beat stories.

Step 2: Research your market value.

Ask trusted peers. Check job ads for same role. Look at cost of living reports on BusinessDay and inflation data from NBS. Don’t quote US salaries. Quote Lagos, Abuja, PH rates.

Step 3: Choose the right recipient.

Private sector? Your direct manager plus HR. Small school? Proprietor or Proprietress. Bank? Your branch manager and HR Business Partner. Don’t send to MD on day one.

Step 4: Use a formal letter format.

Your address. Date. Recipient’s name and title. Subject line: Request for Salary Review. Keep formatting clean.

Step 5: Open with gratitude, not complaint.

Thank them for the opportunity. Mention your tenure. One sentence only.

Step 6: Show your value.

Three to four bullets. Each with numbers. Example: Reduced loan default by 12%. Retained 35 students. Handled 120 tickets weekly.

Step 7: Make the ask.

State current salary. State requested salary. Give a range if policy allows. Example: From N180,000 to N220,000. That’s 22% increase.

Step 8: Close with commitment.

Say you want to grow with the company. Ask for a short meeting. Sign off properly.

Evidence Type	Strong Example	Where to Get It
Revenue	Generated N8.2m in 3 months	Sales report, CRM
Efficiency	Cut report time from 5 days to 2	Your work tracker, email
People	Trained 4 interns, all retained	HR records, feedback
Learning	Completed ICAN ATS 2	Certificate, exam slip
External	NBS inflation at 33%, transport up	NBS, company bus receipts

Complete Nigerian sample/template

This one fits private sector. Think bank, fintech, marketing agency, private school in Lagos or Abuja.

Your Name
Department, Staff ID
Phone Number
Date: 22nd September, 2026

The HR Manager
[Company Name]
[Company Address]

Dear Sir/Ma,

Subject: Request for Salary Review

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Marketing Executive since March 2023.

I have grown in this role. I now lead our SME accounts and social campaigns.

In the last 12 months, I delivered:
Grew client portfolio from 12 to 21 accounts. Revenue up by 31%.
Cut campaign turnaround from 7 days to 3 days.
Led 2-man team for Gbagada branch launch. Launch was on time and under budget.
Handled client complaints. Our retention rate is now 94%.

My salary has remained N180,000 since March 2024. No review despite added duties.

Market rate for this role in Lagos is N220,000 to N260,000. I checked ads and peers. Also, transport and rent have risen sharply.

I kindly request a review to N220,000 monthly. That’s a 22% increase. I am open to discussion based on company policy.

I remain committed to our 2026 target of N150m revenue. I am ready to lead Q4 outreach.

May we have a brief meeting this week? Thank you for considering my request.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Full Name]

[Signature]

Adjust figures to your reality. Don’t copy N180k if you earn N90k. Keep it true.

Alternative sample for another realistic situation

This second sample fits a teacher, nurse, or admin staff. Maybe after NYSC retention.

Your Name
Basic 4 Teacher, Staff ID: SCH/042
Date: 22nd September, 2026

The Proprietor,
Gracefield International School,
Aba, Abia State.

Dear Sir,

Subject: Request for Salary Increment

Thank you for retaining me after NYSC in 2024.

I teach Basic 4 and 5. I also coordinate inter-house sports and PTA records.

My results this session:
28 of 32 pupils passed with distinction in Maths.
I introduced weekend revision. Attendance grew to 90%.
No parent complaints this term. Two new enrolments came via my class.
I covered Basic 6 during Mrs Okoro’s leave. No gap in lessons.

My pay is N70,000 since September 2024. Duties have doubled. I now close by 5pm, not 2pm.

I humbly request a review to N90,000. I know school fees were reviewed. I ask that staff welfare reflects it.

I want to stay and help us hit 100% Common Entrance pass next year.

Kindly consider my request. I am available to discuss.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

For civil servants, change format. Use Through: Your HOD. Address Executive Chairman via Head of Service. And attach appraisal forms. Each state differs. Check your ministry’s HR manual.

How to submit/send it

Don’t just dump it on WhatsApp.

• Print and sign if your office uses hard copies. Submit to HR and keep a photocopy. Let them stamp received.
• Email if your company runs on email. Use PDF attachment. Keep subject clear: Request for Salary Review – [Your Name] -.
• For banks and telcos, submit via HR portal if available. Then follow up with email.
• Send mid-week. Tuesday to Thursday morning is best. Not Monday rush. Not Friday evening.
• Send to direct manager first, copy HR. Unless policy says HR only.
• Don’t send to group chats. Don’t CC MD unnecessarily.

[Department]

If you’re in a small shop in Ariaria or Alaba, a typed letter still works. It shows respect. It sets you apart.

What happens after submission

Expect one of five outcomes.

• HR acknowledges receipt. They log it. This is normal.
• Manager invites you for chat. He asks for more data. Bring it.
• Approval comes with conditions. Maybe KPI based. Get it in writing.
• Partial approval. They offer N200k not N220k. Negotiate or accept.
• Denial or delay. They say no budget. Ask when to reapply.

Timeline varies. Private companies: 1 to 4 weeks. Schools: often next term. Government: may take months and needs committee approval. Don’t assume same speed everywhere.

If approved, get revised offer letter or addendum. Check new gross, deductions, NHIS, pension. Ensure PAYE is correct. If not approved, don’t sulk. Ask for feedback and a review date.

Common mistakes to avoid

I’ve reviewed hundreds of these letters. Same errors repeat.

• Writing 3 pages. Keep it one page. HR won’t read essay.
• Comparing yourself to colleagues by name. HR hates that. It creates drama.
• Mentioning fake job offers. If they call your bluff, you lose trust.
• Complaining about economy without linking to your value. Hardship alone doesn’t raise pay.
• Using US terms like “cost-of-living adjustment” as legal right. Nigeria has no automatic COLA law for private sector. Explain context, don’t claim law.
• Sending with typos. It screams carelessness.
• Requesting 100% increase at once. Unrealistic. Aim 15% to 30% unless role changed fully.
• Posting letter on social media. Very unprofessional. It kills your case.

Also, don’t demand transport allowance as salary. Keep allowances separate if your firm structures pay that way.

Frequently asked questions

Should I state a figure?

Yes. Always state a figure or range. It shows you’ve done research. It helps management decide fast.

What if my company has no HR?

Give it to your direct Oga. Keep a copy. If you’re in a family business, still write it. It keeps things clear.

Can a corper request increment?

NYSC allowance is federal. You can’t increase it via letter to NYSC. But if PPA pays you extra, you can request review of that PPA allowance. Be polite. Your PPA is not obligated.

What if I just joined 4 months ago?

Wait. Except your role changed completely. Most employers expect 12 months before review. Use probation appraisal to discuss instead.

Do I need to attach proof?

Yes, but short. Attach one-page summary of results. Or link to report. Don’t attach 20 pages.

Will they sack me for asking?

A professional request won’t get you sacked. Threats and rude tone can. If your contract protects you, read it. If unsure, speak to a labour lawyer. Again, this is not legal advice.

Final practical advice

Don’t copy and paste blindly. Personalise it. Use your real numbers. Use your real tenure.

Write it, sleep on it, then edit. Read it aloud. If it sounds beggy, rewrite.

I, David Atulegwu, reviewed this guide to keep it real for Nigerian workers. I’ve seen salary letters work in banks in Marina, schools in Umuahia, clinics in Kaduna. The pattern is same. Respect, results, clear ask.

Send your letter. Follow up in one week. If yes, deliver more. If no, build stronger case for next quarter.

Your value must speak before you speak. Let the letter carry it.