Tension is rising across Lagos as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, prepares what it calls the “Mother of All Protests”, a massive demonstration against e-mobility and vehicle financing firm Moove Africa. For many app-based drivers, this protest represents more than a rally; it is a fight for dignity, fairness, and survival.
The planned action was revealed through letters signed by the Chairperson of the Lagos State NLC, Comrade Funmi Sessi, addressed to top security officials including the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Director of DSS in Lagos, and the Commissioner of Transportation. In the letters, Sessi details the worsening conditions that Moove drivers have faced and the company’s alleged refusal to engage in dialogue.
The Breaking Point: A 100% Remittance Increase
For months, Moove drivers under the company’s drive-to-own scheme have been groaning under an unexpected burden: a sudden 100% hike in weekly remittances.
In September, Moove raised the remittance from ₦56,400 to ₦112,200, a staggering jump that left drivers confused and financially strained. Yet, the shock deepened when drivers discovered the breakdown:
- ₦39,766 for actual vehicle loan repayment
- ₦9,966 weekly maintenance cost
- ₦16,343 weekly repairs fund
- ₦2,885 insurance
- ₦505 health insurance
- ₦42,735 handling cost
The handling cost alone was higher than the loan repayment, leaving drivers questioning how such charges could be justified. Protests erupted at the time, but they brought no relief.
Unlawful Vehicle Seizures Add Fuel to the Fire
Beyond the financial strain, the NLC says drivers are also facing unlawful vehicle seizures, especially of Suzuki Espresso and Suzuki Alto vehicles, without due process. These confiscations, Sessi said, have pushed many hardworking drivers into deeper hardship.
“These actions have brought untold hardship on hardworking drivers who are already struggling under the prevailing economic realities,” Sessi wrote. Despite attempts to engage Moove Africa in dialogue, the company allegedly refused to respond or review the controversial policy.
Drivers Say Enough Is Enough
For the NLC, the protest is not just symbolic, it is a constitutional right anchored in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees peaceful assembly. The aim is clear:
- Reverse the 100% remittance increase
- Stop unlawful vehicle seizures
- Demand justice for drivers who have been wronged
- Pressure Moove to engage in dialogue
The NLC assured authorities that the protest would be peaceful, orderly, and within the law.
AUATON Joins the Fight: “Moove Is Exploiting Drivers”
The Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has thrown its weight behind the movement. In a statement to Technext, its secretary Comrade Yusuf Bamidele accused Moove of “recycling drivers and manipulating remittance systems” to repossess cars.
“These actions are unfair, oppressive, and a direct attack on the welfare and rights of app-based transport workers in Lagos State,” he said.
He called on drivers across Bolt, Uber, InDrive, LagRide, SimpliRide, and other platforms to stand in solidarity, turning the protest into a united front for all app-based workers.
A Defining Moment for App-Based Drivers in Lagos
For thousands of drivers, this moment feels like a crossroads, where silence would mean surrender, and collective action may be their only path to change. As the “Mother of All Protests” approaches, Lagos prepares for what could become one of the largest app-based labour demonstrations in Nigeria’s history.
Whether Moove Africa will respond or concede remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: drivers, backed by powerful labour unions, are determined to be heard.
