The Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has thrown its weight behind indigenous e-hailing platforms, describing them as effective tools for tackling critical challenges the union attributes to foreign-operated apps such as Bolt and inDrive.

The position was contained in a statement signed by the union's Lagos State Chapter Chairman, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, and seen by Technext.

In the statement, AUATON voiced concern over mounting frustrations among drivers, citing poor fares, excessive commissions, unilateral decisions by app companies, deteriorating working conditions, and the continued disregard for drivers' legitimate concerns. The union, however, stressed that overcoming these grievances is fundamentally a matter of strategy. Fares and commission rates determine how much of each trip's price actually reaches the driver, making them the levers most directly tied to drivers' take-home earnings.

According to AUATON, earlier measures — including protests and strike actions — have failed because drivers could not afford to stay away from the apps long enough to achieve any meaningful change. To ensure that future strike actions do not jeopardise drivers' livelihoods, the union is recommending the onboarding of drivers onto indigenous apps as alternatives.

“When the time comes, and the Union calls for collective industrial action, the objective will no longer simply be to stop working and stay at home. Instead, the objective will be to create a situation where drivers can collectively withdraw their services from platforms that refuse to respect their legitimate demands for 3 days while still having an alternative means to migrate and earn through an indigenous platform. We want an action that the app companies will genuinely feel our impact and respect our demands,” the union said.

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AUATON said the strategy would allow drivers to withdraw from non-compliant platforms during collective action while continuing to earn through alternative services — a dynamic the union believes could strengthen its bargaining position.

The union also disclosed that it has been engaging with indigenous app companies and is currently at the finalisation stage with some of them. The statement did not name the platforms involved.

“Our position is straightforward: even if only one indigenous platform is fully ready, the necessary agreement will be concluded, and the details will be made public for all drivers to see and understand,” the statement reads.

AUATON cautions local apps against fake promises

The union further warned against false promises being made by local apps in a bid to lure drivers onto their platforms, noting that it will not ask drivers to move to any alternative platform based on rumours or empty promises. Any agreement reached with an alternative platform, AUATON said, will be properly communicated so that drivers can clearly understand the terms, obligations and benefits.

The union also appealed to angry and frustrated drivers to exercise a little more patience, as the process of demanding better working conditions has already begun. It said a task force has already been created to enforce compliance, and drivers should not allow their frustration to push them into actions that have not been properly planned. For now, the markers to follow are the public release of the agreement terms, the onboarding of drivers onto the partner platforms, and the enforcement activity of the newly created task force.

“We are building the structure required to make our collective voice stronger. No individual driver, no matter how hardworking or influential, can force a multinational platform to change its policies alone. But when thousands of drivers speak with one voice, under one recognised union, with a clear strategy and a viable alternative, the balance of power changes,” the app-based drivers' union said.

AUATON likewise urged drivers to remain united, disciplined, and above all committed to the collective struggle.

“The battle for better fares, fairer commissions, welfare, driver participation in industry decisions and respect for the dignity of app-based transporters is not a one-day battle. It is a struggle for the future of our profession and the future of every driver who depends on this industry for survival. Let us therefore trust the process, remain calm and allow the union to complete what it has started,” the union said.

Source: TechNext24