MTN Nigeria Doubles High-Earners to Fight Brain Drain

MTN Nigeria is proving that one powerful way to fight brain drain is simply paying people what they're worth.

The telecom giant nearly doubled its highest-paid workforce in 2025, jumping from 334 to 659 employees earning at least ₦2.4 million ($1,773) monthly. That works out to roughly ₦29.5 million annually, placing these workers firmly in Nigeria's top earner category.

The move wasn't about hiring more people. Total staff only increased modestly from 1,912 to 2,001 employees. Instead, MTN restructured its entire pay pyramid, promoting workers and reclassifying roles to concentrate resources where they matter most.

The strategy targets a real crisis. A 2024 study found that 64% of Nigerian professionals are actively seeking jobs abroad, nearly triple the global average of 23%. The "Japa" phenomenon, as locals call it, has drained Nigeria's tech ecosystem of engineers, developers, and specialists in critical areas like 5G, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

MTN isn't just competing with other Nigerian companies anymore. They're up against fintechs, international employers, and the allure of foreign opportunities promising better pay and stability.

The numbers show MTN's laser focus on specialized talent. Workers in network operations, digital services, AI platforms, cloud infrastructure, and customer experience saw the biggest gains. Meanwhile, mid-tier salary bands shrank as employees moved up, with some brackets dropping by 70%.

The company can afford this approach thanks to recovering industry fundamentals. After losses in 2024 from currency devaluation, telecom operators won regulatory approval for a 50% tariff increase in early 2025. MTN's service revenue surged 55% year over year to ₦5.2 trillion ($3.84 billion), creating the financial cushion to reward top performers.

The Ripple Effect

When major employers like MTN invest in keeping talent local, the benefits extend far beyond their payroll. Every engineer who stays in Nigeria is one more mentor for the next generation, one more innovator building solutions for African problems, one more professional strengthening the local economy.

MTN already paid more than 84% of its workforce at least ₦1 million monthly as of 2024, well above Nigeria's national average. Adding employee stock ownership and performance bonuses sends a clear message: we value you staying here.

Other Nigerian companies are watching closely as inflation above 30% erodes purchasing power and competition for skilled workers intensifies. The talent war is expensive, but losing your best people costs more.

MTN's bet is simple: invest in people now, and they'll build the future you need tomorrow.