This article examines the social and human rights challenges facing e-hailing
platform drivers in Nigeria and the innovative legal and contractual framework
required to address such challenges. The research seeks to answer a significant
question on what should be the goals of a regulatory framework that can provide
redress to platform drivers. The author examined the findings from the digital
labor worker initiative project in Nigeria which adopted a collaborative and
relational framework based upon a restorative approach. The examination was
done by reviewing the results from 5 initial deliberative forums which brought
together 100 platform drivers each in 5 states, and the findings from 5 restorative
circles conducted at the Lagos restorative conference where the national collective
agreement was adopted and signed by social actors. Five particular themes emerged
from the initial deliberative forums; Compensation, Safety, Accountability,
Empowerment, and community. 300 Participants at the Lagos restorative
conference including workers and their family members, platforms, regulators
formed 5 restorative circles, each circle discussed one underlying theme from the
findings of the initial deliberative forum. The responses on the opinions of
participants from the restorative circles were collated and embedded into the
national collective agreement. The research explored corporate harm through the
lens of restorative justice for the victims of corporate violence in digital platform
work in Nigeria. It further emphasizes that the prevention of the repeat
victimization of platform workers should be a global concern that the adaptation
of restorative justice in digital platform work should seek to address. Finally, the
research work argues that restorative justice principles and practices can and
should be used to facilitate better redress for platform drivers; promote social
dialogue and collective bargaining, provide a proper channel of communication to
prevent unjust deactivation and dismissal, and especially ensure adequate social
protection for drivers and their families regardless of the nature or scope of the
employment relationship.
Corporate Violence Digital Labor Platform Restorative Justice Employment relationship Nigeria
How to Cite
Adeniran, A. (2026). Strengthening Workers Voices: Legal Framework For Advancing Restorative Justice For The E-Hailing Workforce In Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The), 17(3), 370–412. https://doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v17i3.15
Adedamola Adeniran
This article examines the social and human rights challenges facing e-hailing
platform drivers in Nigeria and the innovative legal and contractual framework
required to address such challenges. The research seeks to answer a significant
question on what should be the goals of a regulatory framework that can provide
redress to platform drivers. The author examined the findings from the digital
labor worker initiative project in Nigeria which adopted a collaborative and
relational framework based upon a restorative approach. The examination was
done by reviewing the results from 5 initial deliberative forums which brought
together 100 platform drivers each in 5 states, and the findings from 5 restorative
circles conducted at the Lagos restorative conference where the national collective
agreement was adopted and signed by social actors. Five particular themes emerged
from the initial deliberative forums; Compensation, Safety, Accountability,
Empowerment, and community. 300 Participants at the Lagos restorative
conference including workers and their family members, platforms, regulators
formed 5 restorative circles, each circle discussed one underlying theme from the
findings of the initial deliberative forum. The responses on the opinions of
participants from the restorative circles were collated and embedded into the
national collective agreement. The research explored corporate harm through the
lens of restorative justice for the victims of corporate violence in digital platform
work in Nigeria. It further emphasizes that the prevention of the repeat
victimization of platform workers should be a global concern that the adaptation
of restorative justice in digital platform work should seek to address. Finally, the
research work argues that restorative justice principles and practices can and
should be used to facilitate better redress for platform drivers; promote social
dialogue and collective bargaining, provide a proper channel of communication to
prevent unjust deactivation and dismissal, and especially ensure adequate social
protection for drivers and their families regardless of the nature or scope of the
employment relationship.