The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has petitioned the Lagos State Government over what it described as worsening exploitation and unsafe working conditions faced by drivers operating on ride-hailing platforms including Uber, Bolt and inDrive.

In a letter dated May 25, 2026 and addressed to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the union called for urgent legal, legislative and regulatory intervention in the operations of the ride-hailing companies in Lagos.

AUATON said despite previous engagements with government authorities, drivers’ welfare and safety conditions had continued to deteriorate, while no sustainable regulatory enforcement had been achieved. The union also referenced a recent directive by the National Health Insurance Authority mandating app-based transport and logistics platforms to provide health insurance access for independent contractors and workers in line with the NHIA Act 2022 and the September 2025 Presidential Directive on compulsory health insurance.

According to the union, ride-hailing companies deduct various commissions and service charges from drivers without providing adequate welfare protection, including health insurance and social support schemes.

Highlighting security concerns, AUATON alleged that several drivers had been attacked, killed or dispossessed of their vehicles since 2017, while incidents involving passengers had also exposed gaps in safety protocols on the platforms. The union demanded mandatory National Identification Number linkage and compulsory facial verification systems for both drivers and riders.

The union also decried what it described as excessive commission charges imposed by the companies. It claimed that an average driver earning N60,000 daily loses as much as 27 per cent to commissions and booking fees, alongside rising operational costs including fuel, feeding, vehicle remittance and maintenance.

AUATON estimated that after deductions and expenses, many drivers are left with less than N3,000 daily despite working for long hours under harsh economic conditions. It blamed the situation for fatigue-related accidents among drivers.

The union demanded that commissions charged by ride-hailing companies should not exceed five per cent or that a daily subscription model ranging from N500 to N1,000 be adopted instead.

On welfare, AUATON proposed that at least two per cent of commissions collected by the companies should be set aside in a jointly managed escrow account to fund health insurance schemes such as ILERA EKO, vehicle insurance, pension schemes, soft loans, housing support and installation of trackers and dash-cams.

The union further accused the platforms of unilateral fare fixing, inconsistent pricing and alleged manipulation of trip calculations, while also criticising the refusal of the companies to formally recognise AUATON as a stakeholder in the industry.

AUATON called for a roundtable meeting involving all stakeholders and urged the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to compel the companies to comply with labour, welfare and safety standards.

The union warned that drivers across Lagos State had resolved to continue peaceful protests until meaningful reforms were implemented within the e-hailing sector.