Ride-hailing platforms, including Bolt, Uber, InDrive, among others, are under growing pressure to implement protective measures for drivers following reports of attacks, harassment, and misclassification in Nigeria’s digital labour sector.
The call was made at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the African Restorative Justice Summit in collaboration with the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, President of the African Forum for Restorative Justice, Prof John Omale, said app-based drivers deserve dignity, protection, and a voice, especially when they face harm while providing essential services.
Omale said that many victims had remained silent for years due to fear, weak protections, and unclear employment classifications within app-based platforms.
He added that restorative justice offers an alternative to punitive models by focusing on dialogue, healing, and shared responsibility among workers, platforms, and regulators.
According to him, ignoring harm suffered by workers dehumanises labour and weakens trust, ultimately affecting productivity and workplace harmony.
He revealed that the forum is working with legal experts, peacebuilders, and platform representatives to develop a draft restorative framework that could guide workplace relations for digital labour across Nigeria.
(The Sun)
