Uber, Bolt and Indrive Drivers in Nigeria Call for Government Action Over High Commissions and Unfair Fare Structures

The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATON) has urged the Lagos State Government to take immediate action against what it describes as exploitative practices by e-hailing app companies.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), AUATON’s Vice President for the South-West Zone, Mr Kolawole Aina, said that commission rates and fare policies imposed by companies such as Uber, Bolt, Indrive and Rida are placing an unsustainable burden on drivers.

AUATON is a registered trade union under the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, representing e-hailing drivers, app-based bike and bicycle food delivery and courier workers, app-based bike passenger services, and app-based bus passenger workers across Nigeria. The union’s mandate is to safeguard members’ welfare, promote economic well-being, and ensure safety and security.

Aina explained that while the cost of living and operational expenses, including fuel, spare parts, and vehicle maintenance, have increased sharply, many e-hailing platforms have reduced their service fares. In some cases, commission rates have also been increased.

He highlighted that one major platform recently shifted from a fixed 25% commission to a dynamic model ranging from 20% to 30% per trip, without providing clear criteria for the changes.

“The criteria for these variable commissions are not transparent to drivers. There is no transparency anymore, and this negates the mandate given to them by the Lagos State Governor on the need for transparency in their dealings with drivers,” Aina said.

He added that drivers often do not know the total fare charged to passengers until after the trip is completed, sometimes forcing them to ask riders directly, a practice that could cause disputes.

Recalling a recent incident in which a driver collapsed from exhaustion on the Ikoyi Link Bridge, Aina stressed that low fares and high commissions are driving many into dangerous working conditions.

The union also dismissed recent claims by some platforms about high driver earnings, calling them a “false narrative” aimed at attracting new recruits.

“They are a ‘bait’ to lure people into driving under their platforms,” Aina said.

According to AUATON, many new drivers, once confronted with the harsh economic realities of the work, either quit in frustration or are blocked from the platform, creating a constant churn of recruitment and attrition.

Aina reiterated the union’s call for the Lagos State Government to intervene, warning that failure to act would worsen the hardship and exploitation faced by drivers.