Petrol station workers have called on the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to extend health insurance coverage to employees in the downstream petroleum sector.
The appeal covers pump attendants, cleaners, security personnel, managers and other staff working at petrol stations operated by independent marketers across the country.
The call followed the recent launch of a health insurance scheme by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for workers in its retail outlets. Labour advocates described the initiative as timely and a benchmark for the sector.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna, the Convener of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers, Ibrahim Zango, urged IPMAN to replicate the NNPCL programme to improve worker welfare and well-being.
Zango said petrol station workers face daily health and safety risks, including exposure to toxic fumes, fire hazards and long working hours, making access to healthcare protection essential.
According to him, health insurance should not be treated as a luxury but as a basic right, especially in an industry with high occupational risks. He said denying workers access to healthcare undermines productivity and dignity.
Zango also noted that rising healthcare costs and the current economic hardship have worsened the vulnerability of workers who earn modest wages. He said a single illness could wipe out a worker’s income.
He called on IPMAN to take immediate steps to provide health insurance coverage for workers under its membership, adding that proactive action would help protect lives and ensure a stable and motivated workforce in the downstream petroleum sector.
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