Uber and Bolt drivers under the aegis of Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEDPA) have threatened to embark on strike if their demands were not met.
As part of one of their demands, the drivers called on e-hailing companies to increase their fares to reflect the nation’s economic realities, especially with the double-digit inflation.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Idris Shonuga, national president of PEDPA, over 95 per cent of e-hailing transactions are consummated through Uber and Bolt platforms, Guardian reports.
He said the companies refused to review its pricing despite unprecedented increases in the price of fuel, vehicles spare parts, food items and other essential commodities in the country.
Shonuga expressed;
In a quest to work and harmoniously at resolving some issues, the association wrote several letters to the companies which was not attended to, showing nonchalant attitude towards our plight.
Your companies have failed, refused and neglected to honour our request for a meeting to discuss issues beneficial to all e-hailing drivers in Nigeria.
And to fashion a harmonious relationship that will benefit, dignify and improve the standard of living of e-hailing drivers, private car owners and the general standard of e-hailing business in the country.
He added that the e-hailing companies have also refused to address issues of welfare packages for drivers, especially families of those who died and got disabled in the line of duty.
Shonuga noted that 15 drivers lost their lives in a series of accidents, while some had been permanently disabled in accidents in the course of the service and that more than 20 others have also lost their lives through kidnapping or killed by ritualists.
He expressed;
Instead of fixing a new and reasonable fare in line with inflation, the companies have recklessly continued to maintain the low fare, thereby, impoverishing hard working young Nigerians who are diligently and lawfully trying to make a decent living.
Shonuga said that the association was considering taking legal action to seek remedies against the e-hailing companies if their demands were not met.
