The Nigerian e-hailing driver’s union, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters (AUATON), is slowly entering into crisis mode, as the president of the union, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran, is currently been exposed for having criminal records in the United States.
The union president was allegedly arrested on charges of rape and robbery. He has been convicted in the robbery case, but there is no information concerning the rape charges.
From the perspective of the union members, the discovery of the president’s US criminal record will pose various threats to the moral credibility of the Union.
“He is the face and authority of the union, these allegations will not only tarnish his image but also undermine the values and labor movement of the union. Remember, this is the first union of this category in Nigeria,” remarked a member.
As a result, fractions of the union members are calling for the resignation of the union president, in an attempt to purge the union of this problem. Some are going forward to write and deliver petitions to the Ministry of Labor and the Nigerian Labor Congress.
The Petition and other accusations
Although the petition is centered on criminal charges, it also brought about new accusations against the union president. According to the petition, the president is violating more provisions of the Union constitution.
One of which is, “No executive member receiving full pay from the union should be employed or receive salaries or payments from another source” (Article 5a of the AUATON constitution).
The president, however, is accused of currently holding a paid lecturing position at the Nigeria Police Institute, which is also in direct violation of Article 16a: IV of the AUATON constitution, which states that all executives are full-time workers of the union and nowhere else.
There are also questions about how Adeniran became the union president, as he is allegedly not a driver and has never been one, which is the basic criteria to become a member or an executive of the union.
The members of the union are seeking immediate action from the Central Working Committee and the National Executive Council concerning this issue. Otherwise, they will have widespread protests and unrest until the president is removed from office.