Remote jobs paid in naira or dollars: what to ask before you accept

Remote roles open access to employers outside your city, and sometimes outside Nigeria. They also raise money questions that a local job does not: which currency you are paid in, how the money reaches you, and who is responsible for tax.

Currency and conversion

• In which currency is the salary paid, and is the figure fixed or converted each month?
• Who pays the conversion and transfer fees, and what rate is used?
• Can you see an example of a past transfer, with the amount received?

Employee or contractor

An employee usually gets a contract, leave, notice and a pension arrangement. A contractor usually invoices, carries more risk and may need to register and file their own tax. Ask which applies and what it means for you in practice. For tax questions, take advice from an accountant who knows Nigerian rules.

Equipment, internet and power

Ask who pays for your laptop, your data and any backup power. A reliable connection and a plan for outages are part of doing remote work well from Nigeria, and a fair employer will discuss them.

Hours and time zones

Check the working hours in the other company's time zone. Late-night meetings every week are a real cost, and they should be in the offer.

Get the terms in writing

A remote offer should be in writing, with the pay, the payment date, the notice period and who owns the equipment. If the employer is outside Nigeria, ask whether the payment comes in dollars, how the rate is set and who pays the transfer charges. A rate that looks good on the day you accept can change by the time the money reaches your account.

• The currency of the pay and the date each month it is paid.
• Whether a tax deduction is made, and who files any return.
• What happens to equipment, data and access when the job ends.

Ask how performance is measured. A remote role with clear goals and regular check-ins is far easier to keep than one where the expectations are only described in general terms.