Petrol station workers across Nigeria have intensified calls on the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to introduce a comprehensive health insurance scheme for employees in its member outlets, citing rising occupational risks and worsening economic pressures.
The demand follows the recent rollout of a health insurance programme by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for staff working in its retail stations nationwide, a move labour advocates describe as a benchmark for the downstream petroleum sector.
NNPCL initiative raises industry expectations
Reacting to the development, the Convener of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers, Ibrahim Zango, said IPMAN must urgently mirror NNPCL’s intervention to safeguard workers’ welfare. Speaking in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna, Zango described the NNPCL scheme as timely and long overdue, stressing that it had set a new standard for employee protection in the retail petroleum value chain.
According to him, petrol station workers face daily exposure to health and safety hazards, including toxic fuel fumes, fire risks and prolonged working hours. He argued that access to structured healthcare coverage is no longer optional but essential for sustaining productivity and morale in the sector.
“These workers keep the downstream segment running, whether they work for NNPCL outlets or independent marketers. Their lives carry equal value, and their health should be treated as a priority, not an afterthought,” Zango said.
Health insurance as a labour right, not a perk
Zango maintained that health insurance should be recognised as a fundamental labour right, particularly in an industry characterised by high operational risks. He warned that denying workers access to healthcare protection undermines both their dignity and efficiency, especially at a time when medical costs continue to surge nationwide.
“Healthcare access is not a privilege. It is a basic necessity. One illness today can wipe out a worker’s entire monthly income,” he said, noting that many petrol station employees earn modest wages that leave little room for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
He added that the current economic climate, marked by inflationary pressures and rising living costs, has further exposed the vulnerability of petrol station workers, making institutional support from industry bodies more critical than ever.
Call for structured representation and urgent action
Addressing concerns around the leadership of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers, Zango clarified that the group emerged organically in response to persistent welfare challenges and weak representation within the sector. He acknowledged the absence of a formal electoral process but insisted that the structure was born out of necessity.
“The circumstances forced workers to organise themselves to speak with one voice. That, however, does not replace the need for proper leadership at local, state and national levels,” he said.
Zango therefore urged IPMAN to take immediate and concrete steps to roll out a health insurance framework for workers employed by its members across the country. He noted that proactive engagement would not only protect lives but also stabilise operations by ensuring a healthier and more motivated workforce in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.
From an industry perspective, analysts say extending health insurance coverage could enhance labour relations, reduce downtime from work-related illnesses and align independent marketers with emerging best practices in corporate responsibility within the energy sector.