Fuel Scarcity Removal: AUATWON demands fare increase for UBER, BOLT, others
Barely a week the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu pronounced the removal of fuel subsidy at his inaugural speech, the National Administrative Council of Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport workers of Nigeria led by comrade Damola Adeniran has called for an increase in the fare of their passengers across the metropolitan.
He made the appeal on Thursday during emergency meeting of the union held in Abuja.
He said “the leadership lament and empathize with all App-Based Transport Workers across Nigeria on the effect of fuel subsidy removal which has now led to over 265%-300% increase in official fuel pumps price ranging from 488/litre to 557/litre as against 184/litre and 200/litre respectively.
“Lamenting the ripple effect of the new fuel price over members earning and patronage, the National Administrative Council of the Union has analyzed the fuel price in various state across Nigeria having realized that the union or members does not have control over transportation price offer to passengers as expected, unlike independent cab drivers, branded taxi driver, bus drivers and others, we have also considered over 200% increase in the price of vulcaliser, motor spareparts, labour cost interalia.
“As a result of this, our members profitability has been completely reduced by over 300% respectively, while the ride hailing companies continue charges between 20%-25% commission leaving the hardworking workers in pains, considering the interest of our passenger who are also affected by this subsidy removal, the council has resolved as follow.
“The union resolved and demand that ride hailing app companies operating within Nigeria like uber, Bolt, lagride, Indriver, drup and others to immediately review their price upward by 200% and set minimum trip fare at 2000 naira respectively
“That all app companies should immediately set their commission at 10% flat or reduce their commission by 50% without any hidden charges, owing to homogeneous commission charges that has made our business unprofitable.
“We demand that app companies subsidize trip fare for the rider by atlest 5% to cushion the effect of increase in price for the rider using the gain from homogeneous commission reserved.
“AUATWON demand that no app companies deactivate any of our drivers as a result of this fuel subsidy removal on account carrying out their lawfulful businsesz or failurd to act on our various demand.
Also speaking, Comrade Jossy Olawale chairman, media and publicity committee stressed that the union emergency meeting revealed that the union is calling on the app companies to immediately respond and act on the union demand even as the pressure from all app-based transport workers on the street increases.
He said ” We will also like to encourage our members to go about their peaceful business and adopt every lawful and profitable means in carrying out their business until further directive by the union.”
