Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

E-hailing drivers push up transport fare by 200 percent

By Gloria Nwafor
04 June 2023   |   6:16 am
Workers in the e-hailing services sector have reviewed transport fare upward by 200 per cent. It also set N2000 as the minimum cost for a trip following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Members of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), during a meeting in Lagos, to review their prices upward over increase in fuel pump price across the country

Workers in the e-hailing services sector have reviewed transport fare upward by 200 per cent. It also set N2000 as the minimum cost for a trip following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The workers, under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), equally said that all app companies should immediately set their commission at 10 per cent flat rate.

Addressing a press conference, yesterday, the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Jossy Olawale, said that the National Administrative Council (NAC) of AUATWON, led by Damola Adeniran, met and lamented the ripple effect of the new fuel price on members’ earning and patronage.

While analysing the fuel price in various states across the country, he said that the union or members do not have control over transportation price offer to passengers as expected, unlike independent cab drivers, branded taxi driver and bus drivers, among others.

He said that with over 200 per cent increase in the price of motor spare parts and labour cost among others, members’ profitability has been completely reduced by over 300 per cent. He said despite all these, the hailing companies continue to charge between 20 to 25 per cent commission on every ride thereby leaving the workers in pain.

He said it is why the union demanded that app companies’ should subsidise the riders’ fare by at least five per cent to cushion the effect of the increase in transport fare, using part of the company’s homogeneous commission.

AUATWON also demanded that no app company should deactivate any of the drivers as a result of fuel subsidy removal.

Olawale called on the app companies to immediately respond and act on the union’s demands. He encouraged members to go about their businesses peacefully and adopt every lawful and profitable means to carry out their business until further directive by the union.

0 Comments