Lagos is bracing for significant unrest as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, prepares to launch what it describes as the “mother of all protests” against mobility and vehicle financing firm Moove Africa. For many e-hailing drivers, the planned demonstration has become a critical fight for fairness and economic justice.
The upcoming protest was revealed in letters authored by the Lagos NLC Chairperson, Comrade Funmi Sessi, and addressed to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, the Director of the DSS, and the Commissioner for Transportation. The letters accuse Moove of worsening drivers’ working conditions and refusing to engage constructively with labour representatives.
The Trigger: Doubling of Weekly Remittances
At the centre of the conflict is Moove’s abrupt decision to double its weekly remittance requirement for drivers under its drive-to-own scheme.
In September, drivers discovered that their weekly payment had shot up from ₦56,400 to ₦112,200. Confusion turned to anger when they reviewed the breakdown:
- ₦39,766 for vehicle loan repayment
- ₦9,966 for maintenance
- ₦16,343 for the repairs fund
- ₦2,885 for insurance
- ₦505 for health insurance
- ₦42,735 as handling charges
The handling fee alone exceeded what drivers paid for the vehicle itself, leaving many unable to keep up. Previous protests did little to change the situation.
Rising Anger Over Alleged Vehicle Confiscations
Drivers have also accused Moove of seizing vehicles unlawfully, especially Suzuki models such as the Espresso and Alto. According to the NLC, these seizures were done without due process, leaving many drivers without their only source of income.
Sessi warned that these actions have deepened financial hardship during an already challenging economic period. She also noted that repeated attempts to initiate dialogue with Moove were ignored.
Why Drivers Are Taking to the Streets
For the NLC, the protest aligns with the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. The labour body intends to push for:
- A reversal of the remittance hike
- An end to indiscriminate vehicle repossessions
- Justice for affected drivers
- A commitment from Moove to engage in dialogue
The union assured security agencies that the protest would be peaceful and properly coordinated.
AUATON Backs NLC: “Moove Is Exploiting Drivers”
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has also backed the protest. Its Lagos secretary, Comrade Yusuf Bamidele, accused Moove of exploiting loopholes in the remittance system to repossess vehicles and replace drivers at will.
He described Moove’s approach as oppressive and harmful to app-based transport workers. Bamidele also called on drivers across platforms like Uber, Bolt, InDrive, LagRide, and SimpliRide to stand together in solidarity.
A Critical Turning Point for Ride-Hailing Workers
To many drivers, this protest represents a decisive moment, an opportunity to resist policies they consider harsh and unsustainable. As preparations intensify, Lagos could witness one of the most significant worker-led demonstrations in the app-based transport sector.
Whether Moove Africa adjusts its policies remains to be seen. But with labour unions rallying behind them, drivers appear determined to make their voices impossible to ignore.
