As fuel prices rise by 15%, ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria ask app companies to cut commission

Ride-hailing drivers are usually not having fun with the most recent hike in fuel prices and hope app companies would cut back commissions to meet them midway

A brand new shockwave has greeted trip hailing drivers following the rise of the pump value of fuel in Lagos and Abuja. The value of fuel rose to ₦617 this morning in Abuja, whereas promoting for ₦520 per litre in many components of Lagos. Members of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) informed TechCabal that the fuel value hike has put them in a troublesome spot. 

A vice chairman of the union, Ifako-Ijaiye, David Ademola, informed TechCabal that right now’s improve will additional eat into their margins. “Buying fuel at ₦500  per litre was not favourable before.” The Chairman of the media and publicity committee for the union, Comrade Jossy Olawale, stated he was fortunate to get fuel at ₦492 per litre in Egbeda, however apprehensive that the rise in fuel would solely complicate issues for e-hailing drivers. The Union’s argument is that whereas they haven’t any management over fuel prices, they need to be given a voice in figuring out the commission they pay to ride-hailing companies. The Union has been in a working battle to get the main ride-hailing companies to scale back their commission to 10%. 

Nigeria’s labour ministry dallies on recognising AUATWON

Olawale and Ademola imagine that the delay in Nigeria’s labour ministry recognising AUATWON because the consultant physique for his or her pursuits has not helped their trigger.  With the commission of 25% which they nonetheless have to remit to app companies like Uber and Bolt, one other fuel value hike worsens their place. This is why Olawale has referred to as for the Ministry of Labour and registrar of the commerce unions to swiftly problem their certificates of registration. He additionally requested the ministry to ignore  ride-hailing companies’ objections to the registration of the union. “The ministry should trash that petition and allow our name to stay. They should issue our certificate immediately,” he stated.

A doable answer ?

As the drivers proceed their relentless pursuit of a ten% commission to be remitted to the trip hailing corporations, in addition they referred to as on the federal authorities and state authorities to have a look at different technique of fuelling their automobiles, significantly with the Compressed pure gasoline (CNG). “Our members can’t afford the cost of conversion but we are asking the government to support us in funding this conversion so that our members who are unemployed graduates that have taken this job can continue to earn legitimately. We are also aware of the palliatives of ₦500 billion in place. We want AUTAWON to be captured in this palliative,” Olawale added.