NLC Demands Legislation to Regulate Uber Bolt Over Labor Violations and Safety Risks

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded urgent legislation to regulate ride-hailing companies including Uber, Bolt, inDrive, and LagRide, citing systemic labor rights violations, safety risks, and corporate negligence. The call was made during a public hearing organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly, following a petition by the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON). The union alleges that these companies violate Nigeria’s National Collective Agreement, fail to ensure driver and passenger safety, and exploit workers through unregulated pricing mechanisms [1].

NLC Chairperson Agnes Sessi criticized international e-hailing firms for importing “distasteful practices” into Nigeria, including treating drivers as “modern-day slaves” while generating substantial revenue. She highlighted the absence of safety protocols such as driver and passenger profiling, which has led to violent incidents, including assaults and fatalities. “Lagos must conform to what happens elsewhere,” she stated, urging lawmakers to enact enforceable regulations to protect workers and users [1]. During the hearing, Sessi presented testimonies from victims, including Biola Olabanji, the widow of a driver killed in 2021 while operating on Bolt. The platform failed to provide support to her family for four years, leaving them destitute. Another case detailed the killing of Comrade Yusfat Olawale Ayinda, whose family also faced corporate abandonment. The union argues that mandatory National Identification Number (NIN) verification for users and collaboration with AUATON could streamline driver profiling and enhance accountability [1].

The NLC’s push reflects growing tensions between gig economy operators and regulators in Nigeria, where rapid tech expansion has outpaced labor protections. Ride-hailing platforms, while transforming urban mobility, often exclude drivers from traditional employment rights such as minimum wage guarantees or social security. The union’s emphasis on safety and contractual compliance aligns with global debates over gig worker rights but underscores the urgency of addressing Lagos’s high incidence of violence against drivers and passengers.

Implementing such regulations, however, presents challenges. NIN-linked profiling could clash with privacy and data protection laws, while companies like Uber and Bolt may resist mandates that increase operational costs or complicate their on-demand business model. The petition also highlights the need for a legal framework to define corporate liability in cases of worker harm, a contentious area in gig economy governance. Without clear enforcement mechanisms and stakeholder cooperation, the proposed legislation risks remaining symbolic.

The hearing underscores the broader struggle to balance innovation with social responsibility in Lagos. If lawmakers adopt the NLC’s recommendations, it could set a precedent for regulating tech firms in Nigeria, a market dominated by informal labor. Yet, the success of such measures will depend on sustained advocacy, legal clarity, and the willingness of platforms to prioritize worker and user safety over profit [1].

Source: [1] [NLC Calls for Legislation to Regulate Uber, Bolt, inDrive Operations in Lagos] [https://technext24.com/2025/07/25/nlc-legislation-uber-bolt-indrive-lagos/]