The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has demanded formal recognition of app-based workers under Nigerian labour law, warning that failure to act could lead to a nationwide boycott of ride-hailing services.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Agnes Sessi, Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos chapter, said such recognition was essential to safeguard drivers from exploitative practices by platform companies.
The union also called for a restorative national conference involving lawmakers, union leaders, and ride-hailing company representatives to bridge what it described as the “widening gap between corporate policies and driver welfare.”
“We are not only addressing issues of safety, security, and welfare for AUATON members, but we are also concerned about the safety of riders, especially regarding the protection of life,” Sessi stated. “Since the motto of the NLC is ‘Injury to one is injury to all’, the Nigerian government must rise to the occasion.”
She recalled the 2021 killing of a driver by an individual posing as a rider, accusing ride-hailing companies of failing to provide the insurance benefits they had promised.
“You told us there is insurance, but you have never once shown up when tragedy struck. You have consistently failed the driver’s test. That insurance coverage has never been provided to the families,” she said.
AUATON stressed that government intervention was vital to ensure fair labour protections for app-based transporters, warning that the sustainability of the industry depends on equitable treatment and stronger safety measures for both drivers and passengers.
