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The short answer
Agree written terms with the carer covering duties, hours, rest day, pay date, leave and notice, using Nigeria's Labour Act as a baseline, and pay their own bank account on the same date each month. Keep a record of each payment, and have a relative visit regularly.
When a parent in Nigeria needs help with bathing, meals, medicines or getting around, many children in the UK hire a carer, either through an agency or directly. Paying someone you cannot see every day is a trust exercise, and the arrangement works best when everyone knows the terms: the pay, the hours, the days off and what happens if it ends. This guide covers how to set it up, what Nigerian law says that is useful as a baseline, and how to pay reliably from the UK.
Agency or direct hire
- Through an agency: the agency recruits, may vet references and replaces the carer if they leave. You pay the agency, which pays the carer, so the price includes the agency's margin. Ask for the agency's written terms, how it screens carers and what the carer is actually paid.
- Direct hire: you or a relative recruit the carer, often by recommendation. It usually costs less, but you take on the checks, the agreement and the payroll yourself.
Either way, a relative or trusted neighbour who visits regularly is the best safeguard for your parent.
Put the terms in writing
Nigeria's Labour Act requires employers to give a worker a written statement of the terms of employment within three months of starting, covering the employer and worker, the nature of the work, wages and how and when they are paid, hours, holidays, sick pay and notice. Changes must be notified in writing within one month. The Act defines a "domestic servant" as a servant in a private dwelling, including a private driver, and its definition of "worker" has exclusions, so how far each section applies to a carer in a private home is a legal question. Even so, the Act's terms are a sensible baseline for a fair agreement. For a template, see an employment contract template for Nigeria.
A carer agreement should cover:
- Duties: personal care, meals, medicines, escorting to appointments, and what is not included.
- Hours, live-in or live-out, and the weekly rest day. The Labour Act provides for one rest day in every seven.
- Monthly pay, the pay date and any allowance for transport or food.
- Sick leave and annual leave. The Act provides up to 12 working days of paid sick leave a year with a medical certificate, and at least six working days' paid holiday after 12 months' continuous service.
- Notice on either side. The Act sets one day for service of three months or less, one week up to two years, two weeks up to five years and one month after that.
- Who the carer reports to in Nigeria, and how emergencies are handled.
What to pay, and the minimum wage
The national minimum wage is ₦70,000 a month under the 2024 Minimum Wage Act, according to SCP Law's summary, which also lists domestic workers among the categories it reads as excluded from the Act. Carers with nursing or care training usually command more than an untrained helper. Ask the agency or local contacts what is typical in your parent's town, and remember that a fair wage helps you keep a good carer.
Example only. A live-out carer is paid an example ₦150,000 a month plus ₦20,000 for transport, so ₦170,000 a month. Over 12 months that is ₦2,040,000. If you also give a December bonus of one month's basic pay, the year's cost becomes ₦2,190,000.
Paying the carer from the UK
- Pay the carer's own bank account, in their name, on the same date each month. The Labour Act provides that wages are paid at intervals of no more than one month.
- Avoid cash through a relative where possible; it leaves no record and invites disputes.
- Keep a payment record: date, amount, period covered. A simple monthly payslip helps if the carer needs proof of income.
- Advances: the Labour Act limits an advance to one month's wages, recovered over at least three months, without interest. That is a fair rule to follow.
When it ends
Give notice in writing, pay wages up to the end of notice, pay any holiday due and return or collect keys and items. If the carer leaves suddenly, a relative should check on your parent the same day.
For other household staff, see paying a house help's salary and paying a driver for your parents.
Where Pryme fits
From a Pryme Personal Account you can send the carer's pay to their Nigerian account each month after converting with Swap; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Your Personal Assistant can prepare the payment and remind you of the date; nothing moves until you approve it.
Questions people ask
How much should I pay a carer for my mother in Nigeria?
It depends on training, hours and town. The national minimum wage is ₦70,000 a month, though domestic workers may be excluded; trained carers usually earn more. Ask local agencies what is typical.
Do I need a contract for a carer in Nigeria?
It is wise. The Labour Act requires a written statement of terms within three months for workers, and the same terms protect both sides in a private home.
How much notice should a carer get?
As a baseline, the Labour Act sets one day for service of three months or less, one week up to two years, two weeks up to five years and one month after that.
Is it better to hire a carer through an agency?
An agency recruits and replaces carers but costs more. Direct hire costs less, but you handle checks, the agreement and pay yourself.
Sources
- Labour Act, Cap L1 LFN 2004 (PLAC Laws of Nigeria) · accessed Oct 2026
- SCP Law: The 2024 Minimum Wage Act, a closer look (31 Jul 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- NSITF: Employees' compensation · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.