Workers in the e-hailing services sector have reviewed transport fares upward by 200 percent. It also set N2000 as the minimum cost for a trip following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The workers, under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON), equally said that all app companies should immediately set their commission at a 10 percent flat rate.
Addressing a press conference, yesterday, the Chairman of, the Media and Publicity Committee, Jossy Olawale, said that the National Administrative Council (NAC) of AUATWON, led by Damola Adeniran, met and lamented the ripple effect of the new fuel price on members’ earning and patronage.
While analysing the fuel price in various states across the country, he said that the union or members do not have control over transportation price offered to passengers as expected, unlike independent cab drivers, branded taxi drivers and bus drivers, among others.
He said that with an over 200 percent increase in the price of motor spare parts and labour costs among others, members’ profitability has been completely reduced by over 300 percent. He said despite all these, the hailing companies continue to charge between 20 to 25 percent commission on every ride thereby leaving the workers in pain.
He said it is why the union demanded that app companies should subsidise the riders’ fare by at least five percent to cushion the effect of the increase in transport fare, using part of the company’s homogeneous commission.
AUATWON also demanded that no app company should deactivate any of the drivers as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
Olawale called on the app companies to immediately respond and act on the union’s demands. He encouraged members to go about their businesses peacefully and adopt every lawful and profitable means to carry out their business until further directive by the union.
