Professional E-Hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association

PEDPA
Founded25 August 2020
HeadquartersFlat A4 Kay's Court Apartment
Addo Road
Ajah, Lekki Eti-Osa
Lagos State
Location
Members
5,000[1]
Key people
Idris Shonuga, President
AffiliationsTUC
Websitepedpa.org

The Professional E-Hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association (PEPDA) is a trade union federation of ridesharing and other gig transport workers. In Nigeria, these workers primarily work for Uber and Bolt. The federation is affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

History

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PEPDA was founded in August 2020. The immediate reasons for the creation of the federation were confiscations of drivers' vehicles by police in order to gain a negotiating advantage over the transport companies, as well as a sharp rise in inflation.[2] The union criticised the business practices of transport companies and urged them to register with state authorities.[3]

In October 2020, PEPDA announced a strike against drivers shouldering the competition between transport companies. The strike was suspended in reaction to the security chaos caused by the End SARS protests, citing fears of police retribution. The union also called for constructive dialogue to solve the problems at the root of the protests.[4]

In April 2021, PEPDA conducted a strike against Uber's and Bolt's competitive pricing. The union began a one-week strike on April 19, demanding a reduction of the companies' commission from 25 to 10 percent and consultation in future pricing decisions.[5] On April 20, police arrested five PEPDA-affiliated drivers, including union president Idris Shonuga, in Surulere. Police stated that the drivers were not arrested due to taking part in the strike, but due to blocking a road. PEPDA alleged that transport companies had been involved in the arrest.[6] In May, Uber raised its prices in Nigeria.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". PEPDA.
  2. ^ Temiloluwa O’Peters (2020-08-26). "E-hailing drivers form union, affiliate with TUC". The Punch.
  3. ^ Benjamin Alade; Gloria Nwafor (2020-08-28). "'Regulations in e-hailing industry will tackle insecurity, harassment'". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Benjamin Alade (2020-10-30). "E-hailing drivers suspend strike, task youths on constructive dialogue". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Olumuyiwa Olowogboyega (2021-04-19). "Uber and Bolt drivers in Lagos begin strike action today to protest "systemic slavery"". TechCabal.
  6. ^ Ikemefuna Obi-Maduabuchi (2021-04-21). "Lagos: Police arrest protesting Uber, Bolt drivers". Today.
  7. ^ Olumuyiwa Olowogboyega (2021-05-11). "Weeks after drivers strike, Uber raises fares by 13% in Nigeria". TechCabal.
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