Workers at NNPC filling stations across Nigeria have expressed strong approval for the newly introduced health insurance scheme by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The initiative, which launched on November 13, 2025, represents a significant advancement in worker welfare within the petroleum sector.
Major Healthcare Boost for Petroleum Workers
The Attendants' Health Insurance Scheme, developed through collaboration between NNPC Retail Ltd and NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), is set to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for more than 7,000 service attendants nationwide. This program will enroll workers on the NNPC HMO platform, granting them access to quality medical services previously unavailable to many in their profession.
Comrade Ibrahim Zango, Convener of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers (C-PSWs), released an official statement describing the scheme as "a major step toward improving welfare in the downstream petroleum sector". He emphasized that this initiative clearly demonstrates NNPCL's commitment to staff wellbeing and establishes a new benchmark for employee care in the industry.
Persistent Calls for Democratic Representation
Despite celebrating this healthcare achievement, the workers' group has intensified its demand for electoral reforms within their union. The C-PSWs have urgently called upon the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to conduct proper elections for petrol station workers without further delay.
Comrade Zango highlighted that while healthcare access represents significant progress, numerous challenges remain unresolved for petroleum workers. He specifically mentioned ongoing concerns regarding:
- Workplace safety standards
- Fair compensation and remuneration
- Job security provisions
- Improved working conditions
- Legitimate worker representation
"A democratically elected and functional leadership is essential to address these concerns and strengthen the voice of workers across the country," Zango asserted in his statement.
Appeal to Private Petroleum Marketers
The workers' group has also directed attention toward private petroleum marketers, urging them to implement similar health insurance coverage for their employees. The C-PSWs emphasized that investing in worker welfare directly enhances productivity, boosts morale, and improves overall service delivery quality.
In their official communication, the group stated: "C-PSW wish to draw the urgent attention of all private petroleum marketers to extend the health insurance scheme to their employees." This appeal underscores the workers' desire for industry-wide improvements in employee benefits.
The successful implementation of NNPCL's health insurance scheme now sets a precedent that petroleum workers hope will inspire positive changes throughout the entire downstream petroleum sector in Nigeria.
