Driving is one of the few roles in Nigeria with more vacancies than qualified applicants — because the checks are strict and most candidates arrive without the paperwork.
The paperwork that decides it
- 1A valid driver's licence, of the right class. Class B for private cars, class C or D for heavier vehicles. A licence that does not cover the vehicle is the most common reason a good driver is turned down.
- 2A LASDRI card in Lagos. The Lagos State Drivers' Institute card is required for professional driving in the state and is checked by employers and by the police.
- 3A guarantor. Almost every corporate or household driver role asks for one — usually a civil servant, a property owner or a long-standing employer who will sign for you.
- 4A clean record. Employers increasingly ask for a police character certificate or check your previous employers by phone.
- 5References from previous employers, with names and numbers. This is the single strongest thing on a driver's CV.
Executive, household and commercial are different jobs
- Executive / corporate driver: driving a company car for a manager. Long, unpredictable hours, decent pay, and a premium on discretion, punctuality and appearance.
- Household driver: one family. Often live-in, lower cash but sometimes accommodation and feeding. The guarantor requirement is strictest here.
- Commercial: bus, keke, taxi or ride-hailing. No employer, no guarantor, but the vehicle and fuel usually come out of your earnings.
- Logistics / truck: the best-paid driving in Nigeria, and the hardest to enter — heavy vehicle experience and long-distance routes.
What the pay looks like
- Household driver: ₦80,000–₦150,000 a month, sometimes with accommodation and feeding.
- Corporate / executive driver: ₦120,000–₦250,000, plus overtime in many firms.
- Truck and logistics: ₦200,000–₦400,000 for experienced long-distance drivers, with trip allowances.
- Ride-hailing: highly variable. After fuel, data and vehicle costs, many drivers net less than a salaried role.
The CV
Drivers often have no CV at all, which is a mistake — the employer is hiring judgement and reliability, and a CV is where you show both. One page is plenty:
- Licence class and number, and LASDRI where applicable.
- Years driving, and the vehicle types you have driven — saloon, SUV, bus, truck.
- Routes you know, especially if the role involves inter-state travel.
- Previous employers with dates, and a line on what you did beyond driving — deliveries, errands, vehicle maintenance.
- Two referees, including at least one previous employer.
The road test and the background check
For a driving role, the road test is the interview. In Lagos it usually means a route the interviewer knows well — a stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge or a busy junction at rush hour — plus a reverse park and a three-point turn in a space that is smaller than you would like. Examiners are watching for smooth braking, mirror use and how you behave when another driver cuts in. Losing your temper ends more driving interviews than a stalled engine.
The background check is the other half. Serious employers ask for a guarantor, a police character certificate, and references from your last two jobs. Commercial and corporate drivers may also need a LASDRI card if the role is in Lagos, and a valid driver's licence in the correct class for the vehicle — a class for a saloon car does not cover a bus.
- Bring originals: licence, LASDRI card where applicable, police report, guarantor form, passport photographs.
- Ask what happens after an accident. A good employer has insurance and a written procedure. A bad one deducts the repair from your salary.
- Ask who pays for fuel and maintenance, and whether there is a daily fuel limit.
- Ask about hours and sleep. Two drivers sharing one vehicle is normal; one driver on call for twenty hours is not.