7. Employee benefit expense

For the year ended

31 March 2026

$m

31 March 2025

$m

Salaries and bonuses

293

253

Defined contribution plan cost

13

16

Defined benefit plan cost

3

1

Staff welfare expenses

27

22

Others

24

10

360

302

For the year ended

31 March 2026

31 March 2025

Year end

Average

Year end

Average

Nigeria

820

790

799

782

East Africa

1,395

1,336

1,308

1,292

Francophone Africa

1,201

1,184

1,177

1,164

Corporate and others

1,096

1,021

969

942

Total

4,512

4,331

4,253

4,180