Lagos Assembly knocks Uber, Bolt, others over driver commission, deactivation

The Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered Uber, Bolt, inDrive and other ride-hailing companies to ensure transparency in all driver payments and commissions. This was part of the outcome of a public hearing sanctioned by the House following a petition by the Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON).

The assembly also ordered the companies to provide clear explanations whenever a driver is blocked or deactivated from the platform, rather than leaving them hanging without a clear understanding of their infractions.

The house also demanded that the companies be accountable to the drivers, to avoid being seen as subjecting them to exploitation.

Speaking about the outcome of the hearing, Lagos State Chairman of AUATON, Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, stated that the petition is a call to end digital colonialism in the transportation sector of Lagos State.

“Today’s hearing was more than just a legislative session; it was a loud, public call to end digital colonialism in the transportation sector. The façade of innovation was peeled back, revealing policies that have trapped thousands of hardworking Lagosians in economic slavery,” he said.

Lagos Assembly hearing on Uber, Bolt, inDrive

Technext broke the news that the Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned Uber, Bolt, inDrive and other ride-hailing companies to a hearing aimed at addressing various issues bedevilling the ride-hailing and the general gig economy of the state and the country at large.

The summons is in response to a petition by the Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), led by Jaiyesimi Azeez. The petition, titled “Public Petition Against Uber, Bolt, Indrive, Rida, and LagRide for Non-Compliance with the National Collective Agreement and Corporate Negligence Resulting in the Victimisation of App-Based Transport Workers in Nigeria,” raised concerns over insecurity, labour rights violations, and regulatory non-compliance by ride-hailing companies operating in the state.

According to the union, the petition was over various issues, essentially demanding full workers’ status and rights as well as a new guiding policy for the sector. The petition also demanded the convening of a conference to structurally address the matter.

In response to the petition, the state assembly summoned the app companies to appear for a public hearing on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC took charge of the hearing, which took place in a conference room at the Assembly complex.

Present at the hearing are representatives from Bolt, inDrive, Uber and LagRide, while Rida did not have a representative. Also present are representatives of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) led by Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez (Makavelli) as well as the Chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Agnes Sessi.

The public hearing began with the Chairman of the Lagos State AUATON, Comrade Azeez, presenting the drivers’ petition before the committee. In his presentation, the chairman accused Uber, Bolt, inDrive and others of systematic exploitation, lack of transparency in payments and commissions, and other infractions that run contrary to existing labour laws.

After his presentation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and LASIEC, Hon Oladipo Ajomale, and the Chairman, Waterfront Infrastructure Development Committee, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa II constituency, took turns grilling Bolt, Uber, Indrive, and LagRide on the nature of their operations vis-à-vis the claims in the petition.

Other assembly members present include the Chairman, Education Institutions Committee, Hon. Ajani Owolabi representing Lagos Mainland I, the Chairman, Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation & Job Creation Committee, Hon. Mrs. Lawal Olumegbon representing Lagos Island I, Chairman, Overseas Investment Committee, Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye representing Ikorodu I, and the Chairman, Establishment, Training & Pension Committee, Hon. Moshood Aro (Ikorodu II).

After the grilling, the e-hailing companies were ordered to provide proof of payments and commissions to ensure transparency, as well as provide clear explanations whenever a driver is blocked or deactivated from the platform.

Speaking after the public hearing, the PRO of the AUATON Lagos Council, Comrade Steven Iwindoye, described it as an end to systematic slavery.

“This is more than a hearing, it’s a call to end systemic slavery in the name of technology. One thing became clear: change is not just coming, it has arrived at the gates of the gig economy. AUATON and its allies have drawn the line, and the people are watching,” he said.