As Nigeria’s petroleum sector faces turbulence over recent disputes, a quieter struggle is emerging from the nation’s fuel pumps – one waged by petrol station workers demanding fair pay, respect and dignity.
Operating under the Concerned Petrol Station Workers (CPSWs) banner, attendants, cleaners, security guards, and station managers across the country have decried what they describe as years of ‘neglect and exploitation’ despite being the vital last link in Nigeria’s oil distribution chain.
Some of them spoken with by our reporter described the meager wage received from their various Patrol Stations as ‘grossly inadequate’ in the face of Nigeria’s current economic realities.
One of the fuel attendants along Nnamdi Azikiwe Express way Kaduna who declined to mention his name for fear of being victimised said she was only managing N20,000 monthly because she couldn’t find any other job yet.
‘I’m only managing the N20,000 paid to me monthly because I have no option. But imagine what will N20,000 do for you in this country,’ she said
Another pump attendant in Tudun Wada claimed that life has been difficult for him due to the poor payment, saying, ‘Most of us trek a long distance to work every day, just to survive on the N25,000 per month.’
He explained that he is already considering quitting the job due to the poor pay.
Daily Trust further gathered that there are other filling stations that pay above N50,000 depending on the company.
A staff in one of such patrol stations who simply identified himself as Ustaz said for him his patrol station pays minimum wage but confirmed that there are other patrol stations that pay less in the state.
‘I know of other patrol stations that pay their workers around N30,000 or less but for me my station pays minimum wage,’ he said.
Babangida Muhammad a resident of Tudun Wada said his friend who works in one of the filing stations at Unguwar Rimi area always complained of the poor pay before quitting the job because he cannot continue with the meager pay.
Their coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Zango, who spoke on Sunday on behalf of the workers called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to urgently address the poor welfare and unsafe working conditions they face daily.
‘We are the ones who stand under the scorching sun and in the rain to serve millions every day, yet we are treated as if our lives don’t matter,’ Zango said.
‘We are dying in silence for fear of being molested or frustrated for raising our voices, even when we are like the engine room of the Nigerian petroleum sector.’
According to the group, most petrol station workers earn between N20, 000 and N30,000 monthly, a wage they described as ‘grossly inadequate’ in the face of Nigeria’s current economic realities.
Beyond poor pay, the CPSWs highlighted other forms of exploitation, including being forced to cover losses caused by faulty fuel pumps or accounting discrepancies.
Many also work long hours without rest, leave benefits, or medical insurance, the group stated.
Zango said the workers are routinely exposed to toxic fumes, fire outbreaks, and robbery attacks, often without any safety equipment or protection from their employers.
‘When there’s a fire outbreak, robbery, or accident, the owners disappear, and the attendants are left to suffer,’ he lamented. ‘We are the unsung heroes of Nigeria’s oil economy,’ Zango said.
The group further accused some petrol station owners of silencing workers who attempt to organise for better conditions, sometimes using threats or physical intimidation to suppress dissent.
The CPSWs demanded that petrol station workers be included in ongoing discussions about petroleum sector reforms, insisting that their contribution to national fuel distribution deserves recognition and fair compensation.
He listed their key demands to include Fair and livable wages reflective of current economic conditions; improved working environments, including rest breaks, safety gear, and regulated shifts.
Other demands are Freedom to unionise without intimidation; Health and safety measures to protect workers from occupational hazards.
Zango urged authorities and industry stakeholders to act swiftly, stressing that the dignity of workers should not be sacrificed for profit.