The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress is preparing a major protest against e mobility and vehicle financing firm Moove Africa. The planned action follows months of rising tension over what unions describe as anti labor practices affecting hundreds of app based drivers in Lagos. Labor leaders say the demonstration, framed as the “mother of all protests,” is intended to send a decisive signal over working conditions in the fast growing digital transport sector.
Background to the planned protest
According to letters sent by Lagos NLC chairperson Funmi Sessi, the congress has formally notified the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services and the state Ministry of Transportation. The protest is expected to take place at Moove Africa’s office in Lagos, with large numbers of drivers and union members anticipated. NLC officials stress that the action will be peaceful and conducted in line with constitutional rights to assembly and protest.
Dispute over remittance increases
At the heart of the dispute is Moove’s decision to increase weekly remittances for drivers on its drive to own scheme by 100 percent. The NLC says payments were raised from ₦56,400 to ₦112,200 per week without consultation, despite earlier attempts by the union to initiate dialogue with the company. Union leaders argue that such a steep increase, implemented amid a cost of living crisis, has pushed many drivers to the brink financially.
A detailed breakdown seen by unions shows that only a fraction of the new weekly remittance goes toward repaying the underlying vehicle loan. Of the revised amount, roughly one third is said to cover loan repayment, with the rest allocated to maintenance funds, repairs, insurance, health cover and a substantial handling charge. Driver representatives say the dominance of fees and handling costs over actual loan repayment makes eventual ownership of the vehicles increasingly unrealistic.
Allegations of exploitative practices
The NLC also accuses Moove of continuing to seize vehicles from drivers without due process, particularly Suzuki Espresso and Alto units. According to the congress, repossessions and collections have been carried out in a way that leaves drivers without recourse and deepens their financial hardship. These actions are described by labor officials as high handed and inconsistent with fair treatment of workers.
The Amalgamated Union of App Based Transporters of Nigeria has reinforced these concerns in its own statements. The union alleges that Moove manipulates remittance systems and applies penalties in a way that facilitates repossession rather than supporting drivers toward ownership. It characterizes the company’s approach as recycling drivers through contracts, while maintaining tight control over vehicles and income streams.
Support from app based transport unions
AUATON has publicly backed the NLC’s planned action, describing it as both a protest and a picketing exercise. In its message of support, the union called on e hailing drivers across platforms such as Bolt, Uber, InDrive, LagRide and SimpliRide to join the demonstration. Union leaders say a broad show of solidarity is necessary to confront what they view as systemic exploitation in platform based transport work.
Wider implications for Lagos digital transport
Labor leaders argue that the dispute with Moove has implications beyond a single company or scheme. They say the case highlights structural vulnerabilities for app based drivers who often shoulder high financial risk while lacking strong protections or bargaining power. For unions, the protest is therefore a test case for how worker rights will be enforced in Lagos’ expanding digital mobility ecosystem.
As preparations continue, the NLC says its goal is a reversal of what it calls oppressive policies and redress for drivers who have lost vehicles or income. The congress maintains that it turned to mass protest only after efforts at dialogue were ignored, and pledges to keep the action peaceful yet firm. With major unions aligning behind the campaign, the confrontation between Moove Africa and organized labor is shaping up as a defining moment for the future of app based transport work in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Source: Technext24