AUATON Demands Reversal of 100% Uber/Moove Remittance Hike, Threatens Shutdown
The ride-hailing sector in Nigeria is facing significant turmoil as the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has publicly demanded the immediate reversal of a staggering 100 per cent increase in weekly remittances for drivers participating in the Uber/Moove vehicle financing scheme. In a strong message to the platform and its partner, the union has threatened a complete shutdown of the Uber app if its conditions are not met. This decisive action from AUATON comes on the heels of recent driver-led protests, where operators under the Moove drive-to-own system downed their tools to protest the dramatic and sudden hike in their payment obligations. The union’s intervention signals a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between drivers and the digital platforms they work for.
Drivers Confront Unprecedented Financial Strain
At the heart of the dispute is a drastic policy change implemented by Moove, the vehicle financing company. Drivers reported that their required daily remittance was abruptly doubled, climbing from ₦9,400 to ₦18,700. This 100 per cent increase has been labeled as simply unacceptable by the workforce. In a formal press statement, AUATON, through its Lagos State PRO, Comrade Steven Iwindoye, condemned the move, emphasizing the severe financial burden it places on drivers who are already navigating a challenging economic climate. The union pointed out that this significant change was imposed without any prior consultation or negotiation with the drivers, leaving them with little recourse but to protest the unsustainable terms that directly impact their ability to earn a decent living and meet their financial obligations under the drive-to-own arrangement.
The standoff between AUATON and the Uber/Moove partnership highlights a critical issue within Africa’s growing gig economy: the need for fair and transparent working conditions. The union’s demand for a reversal and its potent threat of a platform-wide shutdown underscore the collective power of app-based workers in seeking to protect their interests. As the situation unfolds, the response from Uber and Moove will be closely watched, not only by the affected drivers in Nigeria but by the entire African tech ecosystem. A failure to engage in meaningful dialogue and address the drivers’ grievances could lead to prolonged service disruptions and further damage the relationship between the companies and their essential workforce, setting a precedent for future labor disputes in the sector.
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