Precarious Work in Nigeria’s Platform Economy: A Study of Bolt Drivers and Pos Operators in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

The rise of the platform economy in Nigeria has created new forms of work controlled by digital applications. This study examines precarious work among Bolt drivers and POS operators in Owerri, Imo State. The study was guided by Marx's theory of alienation and Standing's theory of the Precariat. Survey research design was adopted. Data were collected from 200 respondents (100 Bolt drivers and 100 POS operators) using questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Findings show that 86% of workers are controlled by the algorithm daily, 78% have no social protection, 84% work over 12 hours, and 67% have developed informal resistance strategies. The paper concludes that platform work in Nigeria has created a new precariat class and calls for state regulation of algorithmic management and recognition of platform workers' rights. The study recommends government regulation of platform work, social protection for platform workers, and formation of associations to improve bargaining power.

Precarious Work, Platform Economy, Algorithmic Management, Bolt Drivers, POS Operators, Digital Labour.

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