The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has formally petitioned the Lagos State Government, calling for urgent regulatory intervention in the operations of ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and inDrive.

In a letter submitted to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the union alleged that drivers are facing worsening exploitation, poor earnings, and unsafe working conditions.

According to AUATON, despite earlier engagements with authorities, there has been no effective enforcement framework to protect drivers’ welfare or ensure compliance by the platforms.

The union also referenced directives from the National Health Insurance Authority requiring digital transport companies to provide health insurance coverage for workers under relevant national policies.

AUATON accused the platforms of imposing high commissions and service charges, claiming that drivers earning about N60,000 daily may lose up to 27 percent to deductions, while also bearing fuel, maintenance, and other operational costs.

The union stated that after all expenses, many drivers are left with less than N3,000 daily despite long working hours, which they say contributes to fatigue and road safety risks.It further raised security concerns, alleging cases of attacks and even deaths involving drivers and passengers since 2017.Among its demands, AUATON called for a cap on commissions at five percent or the introduction of a daily subscription model between N500 and N1,000.

It also proposed that two percent of platform commissions be placed in an escrow account to fund health insurance, pensions, vehicle insurance, housing support, and safety tools like trackers and dash-cams.Additionally, the union is demanding mandatory NIN linkage and facial verification for users and drivers to improve safety.

AUATON urged the Lagos government to convene a roundtable with stakeholders and enforce stronger labour, welfare, and safety standards across the sector.