Reports have revealed that e-hailing drivers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers Union (AUATWON) have threatened to boycott Uber, Bolt and other hailing apps from the 2nd of August so that they join the NLC strike.
This is happening as a solidarity stand with the Nigerian Labour Congress, Nigeria’s organized labour umbrella body to whom the AUATWON is affiliated. The NLC has embarked on an indefinite strike, in protest against the hardships and anti-poor policies of the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu.
Comrade Ibrahim Ayoade, the General Secretary of AUATWON confirmed to Technext that drivers will be mobilized to abandon their apps for the duration of the strike and join the NLC strike and the planned protest by organised labour.
The comrade said he attended the NEC of NLC meeting because AUATWON is an affiliate member. The agreement was that this would be a two-day protest in which they will hit the streets of Nigeria. AUATWON would join the protests and his members would boycott the apps too.
He also added that the reluctance of app companies like Uber and Bolt to increase their fares or even accept a commission slash so as to enable drivers to earn good pay on the job. He said asides from the union’s affiliation with the NLC, these are the reasons why members will be joining the protest.
“Up until now app companies haven’t increased the fares. Even the one they increased previously, they have reduced it because of low customer patronage. Our members are going through a lot because of the exorbitant fuel price. Many have parked their vehicles and some who can’t raise money to repair their cars have sold them outright,” Comrade Ayoade said.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is mobilizing and enabling its members for a nationwide strike to protest the hardship that has been meted on Nigerians with the fuel subsidy removal by the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The strike commenced on Wednesday, August 2, while the rally is expected to take place at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, as well as other venues across the country.
In a statement, the Congress accused the Tinubu-led government of playing games with the lives of Nigerians and demanded that the government immediately reverses all “anti-poor policies.”
“There is nowhere in the world where government leaves its citizens totally to the vagaries of the market without some measure of control and protection. The Federal Government should immediately deal decisively with the criminal content of subsidy instead of exposing ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.