Working Lives: The Petrol Attendant Who Wants to Do Bricklaying Fulltime

Working Lives: The Petrol Attendants of Lagos

This is a somewhat “boring” Working Lives. There is nothing “coded” or spectacular to discover about how the job is done or its inner workings. Our interviewees all readily accept that selling fuel requires basic skills that could be acquired in a day with one explaining that customers operate the pumps themselves abroad. But this series is as spectacular as always regarding the insights it offers into the lives of Nigerians on low incomes. It is a very poorly paid job; the highest salary is N30,000:00. Yet, the petrol attendants manage to have savings, pay for higher education and support family members. Most of them also have skills like repairing cars and tailoring and are hoping to one day have the funds to set themselves up in more lucrative lines of work.

I was just in SSS1 when I left Osun State. When I got to Lagos my brother enrolled me in a public school so I could finish my secondary school education.  He made sure I completed my education because he had promised our parents that he wouldn’t just use me for bricklayer work in Lagos. He was faithful to his promise.

Where are you from?

I am from Ipetumodu in Osun State.

When did you get to Lagos?

I came to Lagos to join my older brother in 2007. He was a bricklayer.  I came to join him so I could help him out at work and also learn one or two things about the job. He asked me to join him so I could ease the burden of our parents.

What school did you attend and when did you leave school? 

I was just in SSS1 when I left Osun State. When I got to Lagos my brother enrolled me in a public school so I could finish my secondary school education.  He made sure I completed my education because he had promised our parents that he wouldn’t just use me for bricklayer work in Lagos. He was faithful to his promise.

Tell me about your family?

My dad is also into construction. He gets contracts to build houses for people. It’s like supervising the construction. My mom is a trader. She sells eggs in bulk and delivers to her customers. My parents have three children and I am the second. The last born is still in primary school.

Where do you live/how much is the rent?

I still live with my older brother. We live in a two room self-contain apartment in Ikorodu. We pay N6, 000:00 every month.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Petrol Attendant Who Used to Hawk Akara

How did you start working at this petrol station?

You know I told you my older brother is into construction. It got to a point where he was getting gigs outside Lagos and I couldn’t travel with him all the time. He didn’t like us to travel together. He was always saying that if something bad like an accident should happen, he should be the only one involved. So he told me to look for a job I could do while he was away. And that was how I started surfing for a job and I came across this petrol station where I currently work. There was a placard that read sales attendant needed. That’s was how I applied and got the job.

Did you go through some sort of training before you could start operating the fuel pump?

No, I didn’t. My colleagues just put me through on one or two things. You require just basic knowledge, nothing much.

For how long have you been doing this job?

I started in mid-2018. So that’s about 2 years I guess.

Is there a form of hierarchy or ranking in this job?

Not at all. People selling petrol are all on the same level. The only boss I have is my manager and he is the one I remit money to daily.

How many hours do you work in a day? 

I start working at exactly 7a.m. daily because of those that always go to work very early that might need to put fuel in their cars. And I close by 9 p.m. But now that coronavirus has scattered everyone’s schedule, I work from 8 a.m. 8 p.m. daily.

What’s your best day like?

Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything like having a best day on this job. I just come to work, do what I am supposed to do and go back to my house. I am very sure if you ask another person their answer might differ though.

How much are you paid? 

I get paid N25,000:00 monthly. It differs, different filling station just do as they like. There isn’t really any fixed amount. I think some even pay less.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Petrol Attendant Whose Wise Parents Built a House in Good Times

How do your bosses check to know how much you fuel you have sold for the day?

There’s a way they measure the amount of fuel in your pump tank. So, with that they know how much you have sold so far and how much is still left in the tank.

Is there a designated amount of money you have to remit daily? 

Not at all, whatever I make in sales for the day is what I remit. I can remember during those times when the lockdown was still very much in its first phase, I remitted only N2,000:00 one day like that.

How much do you spend in a day? 

I spend N600:00 daily, N400:00 to eat and N200:00 for my transport fare. Sometimes I don’t spend that much if I eat at home before coming to work.

Have you ever opened a bank account?

Yes, I have a bank account. My brother’s clients always send money to me for construction jobs.

Do you have savings and how much do you save in a month? 

Yes, I always try to save every month. But I don’t have a specific amount that I save.  It all depends on how much money I have spent each month. I always try and save N4,000:00 or sometimes N5,000:00. I hardly ever get to save more than this because I always send money to my parents as the need arises or when I am really boxed up.

Are you married/ looking forward to marrying?

No, I’m not married yet. But I am looking forward to getting married. I hope I get something better to be doing before then because I obviously can’t raise a family with this kind of salary.

Any other job or business you would like to venture into?

There’s really nothing I have in mind right now. Apart from the construction job with my brother. That brings more money to me that the petrol attendant job. Because whenever I work with my brother at the site I get about N3,000:00-N4,000:00 daily. Multiply that by 5 days in a week, that’s more than what I am currently earning. I just want him to come back to Lagos and be stable. So we can continue working together. At least, I would have more experience and I will also be able to get my own construction gigs.