Uber, Bolt drivers threaten App companies court action over members’ accounts blocking

Etim Ekpimah

The National President, Professional E-Hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association( PEDPA), Mr Idris Shonuga has threatened court action against App companies for blocking his members accounts.

Shonuga said this on Thursday in a press release made available to journalists in Lagos.

He said: “We commend the entire driver community for our doggedness and high level of resilience in putting up with the shenanigans by UBER and BOLT App Companies over the years.

“This ugly trend has really hit  hardworking drivers, who have deployed their cars, assets worth well over N2m, thus leaving us highly impoverished.”

They decried the high level of irregularities by the App companies which has impacted negatively to the E-hailing transportation sector in Nigeria, especially in terms of professional service delivery.

According to him, owing to the high-handedness of the App companies, the E-Hailing drivers were not allowed to have a contractual right and obligations to fix the prices for their services in the country.

Shonuga said: “Sadly, Uber/Bolt companies have not only fixed the price for our services, they also fixed a huge commission for themselves at the detriment of the direct service providers who are the drivers.”

He added that for them to attract more drivers to their platforms, Uber and Bolt keep reducing fares not minding the harsh economic effects on the drivers who have subscribed to their platforms.

He said in the statement: “Because of the alarming rate of unemployment in the country,  many drivers are joining the e-hailing industry as the means to earn a decent living.

“That is why they keep blocking drivers’ accounts unjustifiably without any fair hearing especially the older drivers account on their platforms.

“This development has resulted in many drivers loosing their cars and ended up being frustrated out of business.

“Many have also lost their lives while others have suffered permanent disability in the line of duty without any compensation to the affected drivers nor to the family of the deceased.

“In view of the above, PEDPA has since inception taken the center stage to redress this ugly trend.”

Shonuga said many letters had been sent to the companies for dialogue but all met a brick wall.

He noted that the most recent was the last strike action, which really hit them hard and forced Uber to take steps towards increasing the fares a bit higher though that was not our expectations.

Shonuga said in order to stop the shenanigan by the app companies, PEDPA had affiliated membership with International Labour Organization (ILO), Organization of Trade Union of West Africa (OTUWA) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and solicited their  support for the E-hailing drivers in Nigeria.

“I am glad to inform us that we now have the unwavering backing of these bodies,” he said.