18-hour shifts for ₦30,000($18) a month: Nigerian fuel attendants are overworked and underpaid
Since the beginning of this year, millions of Nigerians have endured the excruciating pain of scavenging for petrol. Pictures of fuel attendants in stations supplying hundreds of gallons, motorcycles, tricycles, and cars lined up in various queues—spilling into major roads and streets, causing severe traffic congestion—have become a recurrent sight, almost every two weeks.
In Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, the situation is worsened by the fact that the state, which is the smallest in the country, has a population of over 20 million struggling for space in just 3,777 square kilometres.
During each fuel scarcity, many of the pictures circulating on social media are often from Lagos, showing the city’s unmistakable yellow-painted buses and terrifying queues, creating a seemingly endless sea of vehicles stuck in traffic.
The frustration affects every Nigerian living in the megacity. Talk to any driver—from commercial transport operators to those working with ride-hailing companies—and they’ll quickly express their frustrations.
Not only has the hike in petrol prices, which increased by 80.3% this year from ₦610 to ₦1,100 per litre, slashed their profits, but they also spend long, unproductive hours waiting to fuel their vehicles.
Commuting workers, eager to beat traffic and make it to their offices, often arrive at fuel stations drenched in sweat, hoping to get just enough petrol. Those relying on public transportation aren’t spared either. Many endure frustrating hours in traffic, while transport fares, which rise sharply during fuel shortages, often double.
Yet, amid all these complaints, who considers the plight of the pump attendants? More importantly, how much do they earn standing under the scorching sun, serving hundreds of often impatient customers?
How Much Filling Stations Pay Fuel Attendants
Cynthia (not her real name) leaves home at 5:00 a.m. to resume her shift as an attendant at a fuel station in Ikeja, Lagos, by 5:30 a.m. For the past seven months, she has worked at this station, though she asked not to reveal its exact location, fearing it could lead to identification.
“If I tell you how much I earn working here, you won’t believe me,” she said.
It was a Sunday afternoon, and business was relatively slow.
Cynthia, dressed in tight leggings and flat shoes, was eating buns for lunch. Her cornrow braids, several weeks old, showed new hair growth. The harsh sun had darkened her already dark complexion.
“They pay me ₦30,000 ($18.2) here,” she whispered as if embarrassed by the meagre salary.
But Cynthia’s take-home pay is often less than ₦30,000. She explained that her employer deducts taxes and often charges for any damages or shortages recorded during the month.
“Last month, I was paid only ₦8,000 ($4.8) after they deducted shortages from my salary,” she lamented.
“My colleague is being asked to replace a nozzle after it broke while he was using it,” she added.
According to Cynthia, the nozzle had been faulty for a while, but management refused to fix it. The morning her colleague used it, it finally gave out.
“The nozzle costs more than ₦40,000—that’s more than a month’s salary,” she said.
At this station, attendants work 15 days a month in a shift system they call “one day on, one day off.” On the surface, it seems like they have time to take on other jobs, but the reality is different.
“We resume at 5:30 a.m. and close by 11 p.m., but balancing accounts can keep us here till midnight. Sometimes, I can’t even find a bike to take me home,” Cynthia said.
Working over 18 hours daily, mostly standing, it’s impossible for her to take on another job during her days off.
She is not alone in this backbreaking work with insufficient pay.
“No, they haven’t increased our salary,” James, another attendant from a different fuel station said, complaining about the stagnant pay despite the introduction of a new minimum wage of ₦70,000 ($42.4) and the increase in fuel price.
James, who earns ₦30,000 blames the National Labour Congress for not fighting for people like him who work hard to keep the country running. He told Neusroom, “I am not sure many private companies have increased their salaries since the minimum wage conversation started. We are the ones Ajaero should be fighting for, but…”
In July, President Bola Tinubu signed a new minimum wage bill after months of negotiation with the National Labour Congress (NLC). The new wage applies to both state and private organizations with more than 25 employees.
Many of these fuel stations are operated by multinational petroleum companies. Yet, attendants believe there’s little intention to implement the new minimum wage. While station managers declined to comment, workers doubt that any pay increase is forthcoming.
While Neusroom’s email addressed to the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is yet to be responded to, Ayo, who earns ₦60,000 ($36.3) as an attendant and works six days a week, admitted that he has no idea whether his salary will be adjusted to meet the new minimum wage. Similarly, Cynthia doubts that her pay will increase.
Fuel attendants face these challenges amid Nigeria’s skyrocketing cost of living. With food inflation at 27.7%, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for September, attendants like Cynthia live on less than $2.15 per day.
Also Read: Special Report: How Sanitary Pads, Beer, Indomie More Than Doubled in Price Within 12 Months
The rising cost of essential items isn’t limited to food. For instance, the average price of sanitary pads in Nigeria has surged by 257%, from ₦700 to ₦2,500.
“I am a woman. I have to buy pads from this pay. What can I do? Stay at home? There are no jobs, so we manage the one we have,” Cynthia said.
- Additional reporting by Tomiwo Ojo
