…knocks Lagos Govt over ‘outrageous’ conditions for LagRide operators
By Demilade Aderibigbe
Uber and Bolt drivers in Nigeria under the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transportation Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), have suspended their strike action acros the country to pave the way for further negotiation with the app owners and companies.
AUATWON’s Media and Publicity Committee Chairman Mr Jossy Olawale who disclosed this to The Nation yesterday, said the union leadership suspended the strike on Friday, for seven working days which would lapse next week Tuesday.
Olawale, said all AUATWON members have since returned to work, but would not hesitate to resume the same if the app owners and companies failed to meet their demands or address their concerns by next Tuesday.
He however pleaded with the Federal Government to include Nigerians working in informal sectors such as members of the AUATWON in the palliatives/intervention it is putting together to help cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.
“We are seizing this opportunity to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please include our members in the intervention the government is putting together to help cushion the effect of the over 300 percent increase in fuel as a result of the subsidy removal. Fuel happened to be our major operational cost and the increment has badly impacted on our members,” Olawale said.
Addressing the app companies, Olawale said though Bolt and Uber companies have carried out some review, the leadership of the union, led by Comrade Damola Adeniran is sticking to it because their proposition is not significant enough as none had done anything about their commission.
Among others, AUATWON is demanding for a reduction in commission and more work friendly policies that would reduce the exploitation of its members by these foreign companies.
Olawale would equally be petitioning against the treatment of its members driving the LagRide who are being victimized for participating in the strike action by the AUATWON. “Reports reaching us showed that LagRide drivers who participated in the strike as members of AUATWON have been blocked on the LagRide platform, despite the fact that we wrote to the Lagos State Government on the impending strike and the need to allow those drivers participate as members of the union.
He said LagRide which was established as an empowerment scheme for the unemployed youths by the Lagos State Government is not favourable to the drivers. “Rather than give the cars directly to the drivers, the agency of government which was in charge of the cars, gave it to party officials who were giving it out on outrageous conditions to the drivers. The effect is that the targeted people are not able to get the cars. The daily targets drivers must meet are equally too outrageous and this is already forcing many of the drivers to drop the cars as LagRide is very unattractive.
The app-based companies have continued to charge over 20- 25 percent commission fees and refused to negotiate with the drivers.
The drivers claimed that the app companies enriched themselves at their detriment and demanded that the commission charged for their services be reduced by 50 percent, and also stop the unlawful deactivation of drivers.
On the other hand, as a result of fuel subsidy removal, private owned transportation companies have also increased their fares to offset the higher fuel price. This has directly impacted commuters, who have to bear the burden of increased transportation expenses.