Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos State Council has criticized the 25% commission charged by app-based transport companies like Uber, Bolt, and LagRide.
NLC Lagos Chairperson, Funmi Sessi, at a press conference on Thursday, said the commission is exploitative and unfair to drivers.
“The structure of the commission from all these app-based companies is killing the drivers,” she said.
Sessi emphasized that app-based companies do not provide vehicles, fuel, or maintenance for drivers, yet they take a significant percentage of the fare.
“You (driver) will bring everything yourself… The only thing that you (app provider) do for them is only to give them riders reference, to refer riders, and then you are now exploiting them by getting 25 to 30 per cent,” she stated.
*Lack of Welfare and Safety Measures*
The NLC chairperson called for justice and proper safety measures for drivers.
She noted that app companies make billions of naira from Nigerian drivers while denying them dignity, rights, or protection.
Sessi urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to enact legislation regulating e-hailing services and ensuring fair labour standards.
Sessi emphasized the need for a national policy to streamline the activities of app-based companies and protect the welfare of workers.
The Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) Lagos, Azeez Jaiyesimi, shared similar sentiments, stating that app companies do not provide jobs for drivers but rather create a niche for themselves.
Jaiyesimi recommended a joint fare review between drivers and app companies to fix fares that consider both drivers’ and riders’ interests.
“We recommend that there should be a joint fare review of fare with drivers and app companies, where fare will be fixed in consideration of both drivers and riders,” he said.
The AUATON chairman attributed poor service delivery on app platforms to the exploitative practices of app companies.
He emphasized the need for fair and pocket-friendly fares that do not eat into drivers’ costs.
