Nigeria’s ride-hailing union, AUATON, pass vote of no confidence on president

Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, already reeling from the nation’s severe economic headwinds, has been thrown into further disarray as the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) — the unified voice for thousands of drivers — delivered a unanimous vote of no confidence to its National President, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran.

The Central Working Committee (CWC) of AUATON cited “constitutional breaches, administrative overreach, medical unfitness, and persistent disruption of democratic processes” as the grounds for Adeniran’s ouster, according to a communique seen by Condia. This internal power struggle erupts at a critical juncture for an industry grappling with skyrocketing operational costs following the government’s 2023 fuel subsidy removal and long-standing grievances over high commission rates levied by platforms like Uber, Bolt, and InDrive.

The leadership crisis deals a significant blow to a union whose inception was a protracted battle, culminating only in late 2023 after years of fragmentation. For drivers, the internal strife is a debilitating distraction from their struggle for economic survival.

“I am predicting a fightback and multiple court cases,” remarked a Lagos-based Bolt driver, who requested anonymity. “Can’t you see the union has collapsed?”

Adeniran, the first president of AUATON following the January 2023 merger of all existing ride-hailing groups — a move designed to quash years of factional bickering — now finds himself at the center of the very disunity the union sought to overcome. The merger, aimed at presenting a united front against ride-hailing firms, had itself faced stiff opposition before receiving approval from the Nigerian Ministry of Labour.

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Nigeria’s transport sector has borne the brunt of the nation’s macroeconomic turbulence. Since the cessation of fuel subsidies, drivers have seen profits evaporate as fuel prices quadrupled and vehicle maintenance costs soared. While fares have been adjusted, they have failed to keep pace with inflation, leading to dwindling customer demand as Nigerians increasingly opt for cheaper, traditional public transport.

The CWC’s communique signals a decisive power shift within AUATON. Beyond the no-confidence vote, the committee moved swiftly to dismantle structures associated with the embattled president, declaring a disciplinary committee established by Adeniran as “illegal, null and void” and removing his appointee for Legal Adviser, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja. Additionally, the committee reaffirmed its own choice for Union Legal Counsel.

The timing of this upheaval is particularly stark. Only last month, Adeniran was the public face of the union’s advocacy, spearheading a petition to the Lagos State House of Assembly to address the misclassification of drivers as “independent contractors” and the alarming rate of violent crimes, including carjackings and murders, targeting them. He was, until now, leading the charge against the very platforms the union is meant to collectively bargain with.

With its leadership in turmoil, the future for Nigeria’s ride-hailing drivers appears increasingly precarious. The hard-won unity that merged three separate driver associations to form AUATON is fracturing, risking a leadership vacuum and weakening the union’s negotiating power at a very critical point.