NLC slams Uber, Bolt, LagRide over exploitative 25 per cent commission on drivers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has criticised app-based ride-hailing companies including Uber, Bolt, LagRide, and Indrive over what it described as exploitative commission charges levied on drivers.

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Speaking at a news conference organised by the Lagos chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) on Thursday, NLC Chairperson Funmi Sessi condemned the 25 per cent to 35 per cent commission collected by the platforms from drivers’ earnings, despite not contributing to vehicle ownership or maintenance.

“These app companies don’t provide vehicles. They don’t fuel or maintain them, and they don’t face the regulatory hurdles the drivers do,” Sessi said.

“All they do is provide an app and take a huge percentage. It’s exploitative.”

She further criticised the companies for imposing arbitrary pricing structures, failing to provide safety nets or insurance for drivers, and disregarding their welfare despite making billions from the Nigerian market.

“The drivers buy and maintain their vehicles, handle law enforcement issues, and work long hours — yet they’re left with peanuts,” she said.

“There must be justice in the commission structure.”

Sessi called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to introduce legislation that regulates e-hailing services and protects drivers’ rights. She also advocated for a national policy that ensures fair labour standards, data transparency, and safety in the sector.

Echoing her concerns, AUATON Lagos Chairman, Azeez Jaiyesimi, emphasized that drivers were not job seekers but entrepreneurs who had been operating before the entry of app companies.

“These companies didn’t create jobs for us — they only created a platform.

“We’ve always been taxi drivers,” Jaiyesimi said.

“They came in as middlemen, yet now dictate fares and commissions without regard for operational costs.”

Jaiyesimi noted that the current pricing model has led to poor service delivery across platforms due to driver dissatisfaction and low earnings.

He urged a collaborative fare review system between drivers and app companies to ensure pricing is fair to both drivers and passengers.

“We understand the economic situation affects passengers too, and we’re not asking for unreasonable fares,” he said. “We just want rates that reflect the real cost of providing the service.”

The union and the NLC both called for immediate dialogue and reforms in the e-hailing sector to protect drivers’ livelihoods and ensure a sustainable ride-hailing industry in Nigeria. [The Star]