The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is preparing to stage a significant protest against Moove Africa, an e-mobility and vehicle financing company. This planned demonstration was communicated through official letters from the Chairperson of the Lagos State NLC, Comrade Funmi Sessi, which have come to the attention of Technext.
These letters were formally addressed to key figures including the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh; the Director of the Lagos State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jide Adisa; and the Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.
Comrade Sessi described the upcoming protest, which is being referred to as the “Mother of All Protests,” as an action targeting Moove Africa’s office. The primary objective of this demonstration is to address the mobility company’s ongoing anti-labour practices, which are reportedly causing significant hardship for its drivers.
A central point of contention highlighted by Sessi is Moove Africa’s recent 100 per cent increase in the remittance required from drivers participating in its drive-to-own scheme. She stated that despite attempts to engage Moove Africa in dialogue, the company has failed to acknowledge or reverse this substantial and allegedly unjust increment.
In addition to the remittance issue, Sessi also raised concerns about the company’s alleged unlawful collection and seizure of vehicles. These seizures have reportedly affected drivers affiliated with the congress, specifically targeting Suzuki Espresso and Alto models. According to Sessi, these actions have been carried out without due process or adequate justification, leading to considerable distress among the drivers.
“These actions have brought untold hardship on hardworking drivers who are already struggling under the prevailing economic realities. The company’s high-handedness and disregard for dialogue have left us with no option but to exercise our democratic and constitutional right to peaceful protest as enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” stated Comrade Sessi.
Sessi further clarified that the protest is intended to advocate for the immediate reversal of all policies deemed oppressive by Moove Africa and to seek justice for drivers who have allegedly been wronged. The NLC emphasized that the protest will be conducted peacefully, in an orderly manner, and in full compliance with the law.
Background: Moove's 100% Remittance Increase
In September, Technext reported on Moove Africa’s significant increase in its drive-to-own weekly remittance. The amount was raised from 56,400 naira to 112,200 naira, marking a 100 per cent jump. A detailed breakdown of the new weekly remittance, totaling 120,200 naira, revealed that only 39,766 naira, approximately 33 per cent, is allocated to the actual vehicle loan repayment.
The remaining portion of the weekly remittance includes several other charges. Drivers are allocated 9,966 naira for weekly maintenance, despite a weekly repairs fund of 16,343 naira. There is also a weekly insurance cost of 2,885 naira and a health insurance cost of 505 naira. A substantial handling cost of 42,735 naira is also included, leading drivers to question why this handling fee exceeds the actual loan repayment amount.
Although drivers had previously protested these changes, their efforts had not resulted in the desired outcomes. The involvement of the NLC in the upcoming protest suggests a potentially stronger push for change.
The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), Lagos State Council, has publicly supported the NLC’s planned protest, characterizing it as both a protest and a picketing action. In a statement provided to Technext, the union's secretary, Comrade Yusuf Bamidele, accused Moove Africa of consistently engaging in exploitative practices.
“Moove Africa has continuously engaged in exploitative practices by recycling drivers and manipulating remittance systems as a means of repossessing vehicles from hardworking drivers. These actions are unfair, oppressive, and a direct attack on the welfare and rights of app-based transport workers in Lagos State,” stated the secretary.
Comrade Bamidele also extended an invitation to all e-hailing drivers in Lagos State, regardless of the platform they operate on—including Bolt, Uber, InDrive, LagRide, or SimpliRide—to participate in solidarity with their fellow drivers facing these alleged injustices.