‘Uber is not ready for dialogue, strike saw 100% compliance,’ striking Lagos drivers say

Contrary to claims by the ride-hailing company, Uber, that it was ready to dialogue with drivers striking in Lagos and Ogun states, the drivers say the company has yet to make any attempt at dialogue.

This was disclosed in a chat with Technext by Steven Iwindoye, the spokesperson of the striking drivers’ union, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON).

Recall that as the strike intensified on Wednesday, the third day, reports across several online platforms indicated that Uber was “seeking” dialogue with drivers. “Drivers are at the heart of our business, and we remain committed to engaging constructively with them through regular roundtable discussions,” the Punch reported.

e-Hailing drivers at the Workers Day rally at Onikan

However, the AUATON said the company has not tried to engage in dialogue in any way. It describes the news as a ploy to make the public think they care about drivers.

“I’m only seeing the news online that Uber has reached out to us, but they have not reached out to us. We don’t know who they communicated with. We checked all the union’s emails, and there are no emails from them calling for a roundtable discussion. All they are doing is employing tactics to make the public think that they care and are trying to resolve the problem,” the spokesperson said.

Further addressing the purported willingness to engage drivers, the union said in a statement that no official correspondence has been received via email, no formal invitation has been extended for any roundtable engagement, and no recognised communication channel has been utilised by Uber to contact the union.

“Accordingly, the union considers the public narrative suggesting otherwise as misleading, unsubstantiated, and a calculated attempt to misinform the public and undermine the ongoing collective action of drivers,” the AUATON said.

AUATON

Restating its engagement position, the AUATON says it remains a responsible and law-abiding body, committed to constructive engagement and institutional dialogue. As such, its official communication channel remains open and accessible, and all stakeholders, including Uber Technologies, are fully aware of this channel.

Uber, Bolt, and inDrive shut down recorded 100% success

Giving a report of its concluded three-day strike, the union said the action was peaceful, carried out lawfully with a high level of coordination and discipline, and most importantly, recorded 100 per cent compliance by members of the union across Lagos and Ogun state.

This level of participation, the union says, demonstrates the unity, resolve, and collective strength of app-based transport workers.

The union also carried out demonstrations at the Office of the Lagos State Governor and the State House of Assembly. There, it successfully presented its formal petition, demands, and position. It was also assured that relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Transportation and other critical stakeholders, will be engaged.

It also got assurances that a structured resolution process has been initiated and that the matter is expected to be addressed amicably on or before the end of April 2026. However, if no resolution is reached by the end of April, the union will be compelled to resume a broader, more decisive, and equally peaceful industrial action.

See also: ‘Just increase the ride fares’- Nigerians react as Uber, Bolt drivers strike

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