The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly, seeking urgent intervention over alleged exploitation and unsafe working conditions endured by app-based drivers.
In the petition submitted on Wednesday, AUATON’s Lagos State Chairman, Mr. Jaiyesimi Azeez, accused major ride-hailing platforms — including Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Lagride, Rida, and others of persistent corporate negligence and repeated violations of drivers’ rights.
Titled “Public Petition Against Uber, Bolt, inDrive, Rida and Lagride for Non-Compliance with the National Collective Agreement and Corporate Negligence”, the document highlights systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s app-based transport sector.
Azeez claimed the companies continue to profit from drivers’ labour while failing to provide essential protections related to welfare and safety.
“Despite the adoption of the National Collective Agreement in May 2024, these platforms have refused to honour its provisions or engage with workers’ representatives,” he stated.
He detailed a range of grievances, including job misclassification, wrongful account deactivations following strike actions, and rising incidents of violent crimes such as carjackings, theft, assault, and even murder — all allegedly exacerbated by inadequate passenger profiling and security protocols.
“Drivers are denied legal protections, social security, collective bargaining rights, and fair compensation mechanisms,” Azeez said, adding that communication and conflict resolution channels remain ineffective or absent.
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He argued that such non-compliance violates international labour standards, including the International Labour Organization’s Employment Relationship Recommendation (No. 198) and Convention No. 87, ratified by Nigeria in 1960, as well as domestic laws such as Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 91 of the Labour Act.
As a way forward, AUATON urged the Lagos Assembly to convene a Restorative Justice Conference in July 2025, involving lawmakers, regulators, company representatives, and unions to formulate a national policy recognising platform drivers as employees with enforceable rights.
“This petition seeks not just redress but the restoration of dignity and safety for app-based transport workers across Nigeria,” Azeez added.
