BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE
UBER and Bolt drivers across Lagos State have said there is no going back on their proposed strike, scheduled to commence on Monday, over alleged poor conditions of service.
The over 20,000 e-cab drivers accused the Coordinating body of Uber and Bolt in Nigeria of treating them in an unhealthy and inhumane way.
National President of the Professional E-Hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association, Idris Sonuga, said over 15 members had died untimely as a result of poor welfare condition.
According to him, 20 of the members are missing as a result of kidnapping and rituals while some currently suffer permanent disabilities, owing to the failure of the coordinating body to pay attention to the drivers’ welfare.
He said drivers covered a minimum of 150 kilometres, 15 hours daily, at N65 per kilometer and N10 per minute fixed by Uber and Bolt Nigeria.
This, according to him, amounts to a gross of N15,000 daily, out of which 25 per cent goes to Uber and Bolt Nigeria as commission.
The drivers are demanding “proper profiling of all riders patronising our services, upward review of the fares to meet the current economic reality, review of all accounts blocked unjustifiably, adequate welfare packages for drivers and compensation to the family of those that lost their lives or are permanently disabled, and cancellation of Individual engagement among others.”
The e-cab drivers’ representative said N4,950 was spent on fuelling and N5,000 as vehicle rental while the drivers were left with a meagre N1,200, out of which feeding, data and airtime would be taken care off.
“This could make drivers work extra hours for survival and this occasions stress that could cause accidents or untimely death. Also, over 20 members are missing in the course of the unsecured service,” he said.
The National President said PEDPA, with over 50,000 registered members across Nigeria, is registered under Trade Union Congress (TUC), International Labour Organisation (ILO) as well as relevant government agencies and parastatals in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, efforts to get the attention of Uber and Bolt Nigeria to register the plights of the drivers was unsuccessful and our resolve was to proceed on industrial action on Monday,” he noted.
