The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the Lagos State Government over what it described as worsening exploitation and unsafe working conditions faced by drivers operating on ride-hailing platforms including Uber, Bolt and inDrive.
In a
letter dated May 25, 2026 and addressed to the Lagos State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, the union called for urgent legal, legislative and
regulatory intervention in the operations of the ride-hailing companies in
Lagos.
AUATON
said despite previous engagements with government authorities, drivers’ welfare
and safety conditions had continued to deteriorate, while no sustainable
regulatory enforcement had been achieved. The union also referenced a recent
directive by the National Health Insurance Authority mandating app-based
transport and logistics platforms to provide health insurance access for
independent contractors and workers in line with the NHIA Act 2022 and the
September 2025 Presidential Directive on compulsory health insurance.
According
to the union, ride-hailing companies deduct various commissions and service
charges from drivers without providing adequate welfare protection, including
health insurance and social support schemes.
Highlighting
security concerns, AUATON alleged that several drivers had been attacked,
killed or dispossessed of their vehicles since 2017, while incidents involving
passengers had also exposed gaps in safety protocols on the platforms. The
union demanded mandatory National Identification Number linkage and compulsory
facial verification systems for both drivers and riders.
The
union also decried what it described as excessive commission charges imposed by
the companies. It claimed that an average driver earning N60,000 daily loses as
much as 27 per cent to commissions and booking fees, alongside rising
operational costs including fuel, feeding, vehicle remittance and maintenance.
AUATON
estimated that after deductions and expenses, many drivers are left with less
than N3,000 daily despite working for long hours under harsh economic
conditions. It blamed the situation for fatigue-related accidents among
drivers.
The
union demanded that commissions charged by ride-hailing companies should not
exceed five per cent or that a daily subscription model ranging from N500 to
N1,000 be adopted instead.
On
welfare, AUATON proposed that at least two per cent of commissions collected by
the companies should be set aside in a jointly managed escrow account to fund
health insurance schemes such as ILERA EKO, vehicle insurance, pension schemes,
soft loans, housing support and installation of trackers and dash-cams.
The
union further accused the platforms of unilateral fare fixing, inconsistent
pricing and alleged manipulation of trip calculations, while also criticising
the refusal of the companies to formally recognise AUATON as a stakeholder in
the industry.
AUATON
called for a roundtable meeting involving all stakeholders and urged the Lagos
State Ministry of Justice to compel the companies to comply with labour,
welfare and safety standards.
The
union warned that drivers across Lagos State had resolved to continue
peaceful protests until meaningful reforms were implemented within the
e-hailing sector.
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