Petrol station workers demand better working conditions

Petroleum Station Workers (PSW) in Kaduna have urged for better remuneration and recognition from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) to protect their rights and improve their standard of living.

Ibrahim Zango, spokesperson of the group bore their minds on Thursday at a press briefing in Kaduna.

Zango lamented maltreatment, poor salaries, and neglect faced by the workers in the sector, adding, we are dying voiceless despite our vital role in the economy; we are treated like slaves.

“Our salaries are meagre, and we face dangers such as toxic environments and fire hazards without adequate healthcare.”

The spokesperson further disclosed that its members earn between N10,000 and N20,000 per month, leading some to engage in sharp practices to survive.

He said, “Why won’t some of them cut corners to survive the current harsh economy?

”Consequently, the PSWs are demanding free, fair, and credible elections to establish leadership at national, state, and local levels, as well as recognition and organisation under NUPENG to protect their members.”

According to Zango, they will not relent in their efforts to have a voice that can speak for all their members across the country.

“We cannot continue to remain silent while our members are dying after putting all their productive years to work.

“We are calling on the leadership of NUPENG as our mother body to, as a matter of urgency, organise free, fair, and credible elections to usher in our leadership at the national, state, and local government levels.

“This will protect our members in all the nooks and crannies of the country. The best time to do that was 20 years ago; another best time is now,” Zango said.