From blocking drivers for unverified/ invalid reasons to terribly low fares and high commission, Nigerian drivers have been actively mute.
Even while the rest of the world including ghana strike at uber/bolt,Nigeria has not even attempted a strike.WHY?
Below are the reasons.
1.NO LEGAL BACKING:The government agencies have not considered the welfare of its drivers in any aspect.The Labour congress union authority whom should have come in has remain tacit about the matter.
When a driver who was blocked by bolt and was not paid his earning reached out to NLC for assistance,he was told "Sorry,We do not come in between contracts".
2.CANDIDACY BETWEEN DRIVERS: The system is very saturated with cars that the major app companies no longer suspend drivers for not accepting trips.At a time,the number of riders requesting are two times lower to the numbers of drivers online.
In view of this,drivers try to make ends meet through hook or crook.
Sometimes it may involve picking another driver's impatient rider.
This competition disunites the drivers. Making it hard for them to act as one.
When a few number of drivers tried going on strike some months ago,A good number of drivers went out driving in the surge,even though they heard the news of a national surge.
3.NO BETTER ALTERNATIVE:uber/bolt are the biggest game right now ,boasting of the highest number of riders nationwide.
Drivers with family responsibilities cannot afford to go off work except there is a better job or another platform.
4.POOR ECONOMY: Although ,the Nigerian GDP is higher than that of south Africa,internally, Nigeria is poor.
Not because there is no money,but because there is a disequilibrium of growth in Nigeria.Thus,an average uber driver goes to work for a day and returns with NGN10,000.well,that NGN10,000 can't take a family for more than two days.hence,he is not going on strike.
5.CAR PARTNERS:Most drivers in Nigeria drive on car rental basis.As such,No partner is willing to listen to stories of 'Strike' as a reason for the incompletion of his/her money.
It is either they withdrawal their car for drivers defaulting, or they lock the driver up on stealing offence.
These fears are what drivers go through when considering if they should join in a strike.As such most of them have chosen to endure the harsh treatment of the major ehailing companies than striking.
When bolt introduced upfront pricing that limits the amount of a trip to an estimated amount regardless of the distance and time,South African,USA and Ghanaian drivers went on strike.Hence the upfront pricing was revoked.
Although Nigerian drivers never went on strike,they also benefited.
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