Petrol Station Workers Cry Out Over Marginalisation in NUPENG Reforms

By Our Correspondent

April 20, 2026

A group of Concerned Petrol Station Workers (PSWs) across Nigeria has accused the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of systematically excluding them from ongoing restructuring processes, zonal elections, and preparations for national conferences.

In a strongly-worded press statement issued on Monday, the workers declared that despite being one of the largest and most visible segments of the downstream petroleum workforce, they remain “unstructured, insufficiently protected, and inadequately integrated” into the union’s decision-making architecture.

The group, led by Comrade Ibrahim Zango, acknowledged NUPENG’s efforts to reposition itself for greater efficiency and stronger representation. However, it expressed deep concern over what it called the “continued marginalisation and underrepresentation” of petrol station workers within these critical reform processes.

According to the statement, available records show that NUPENG is actively conducting zonal council elections and leadership restructuring across its branches. The union has also recently engaged in advancing workers’ rights, including its insistence on unionisation within major industry operations.

But the PSWs insist that in practice, they face poor welfare conditions, weak organisational structures, and limited voice within the union framework.

“Unarguably, petrol station workers constitute a critical mass within the downstream petroleum sector. They remain among the most vulnerable, facing exploitation, poor remuneration, and lack of social protection,” the statement read. “Their exclusion from ongoing reforms undermines the very essence of unionisation and collective bargaining.”

The workers therefore issued a four-point demand to the leadership of NUPENG:

1. Recognise and formalise the Petrol Station Workers structure across all zones.
2. Ensure the inclusion of PSW representatives in all ongoing zonal elections and national conference processes.
3. Prioritise the welfare, safety, and rights of petrol station workers through targeted policies and enforcement mechanisms.
4. Create a clear framework for the organisation, registration, and protection of PSWs nationwide.

The group described the ongoing reforms as a “historic opportunity to correct longstanding imbalances within the union” and reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and industrial harmony.

NUPENG officials had yet to respond to the allegations as of press time.