End police brutality against Yale company protesters, AAC urges Gov Makinde

The African Action Congress (AAC) in Oyo State has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and halt police brutality against protesters at the Yale Company in Ibadan.

The protesters, mainly company workers, are demanding better treatment and the payment of palliatives from the company.

While condemning the actions of both the police and the company, the AAC emphasized that protest is a right, not a privilege.

The party also accused the company of engaging in anti-labor practices, including casualization of workers, and non-payment of allowances and gratuities.

The AAC further called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to unionize Yale workers to ensure justice and better working conditions, as it assured the Yale workers of the support of the people of Oyo State and urged the police to maintain neutrality, protecting the protesters instead of dehumanizing and arresting them.

In a detailed statement, the AAC highlighted the following key points:

• The need for Governor Makinde to call the Oyo police to order to prevent further violence.
• Allegations that police, acting on company orders, shot at protesters, resulting in one confirmed death.
• The AAC’s view that peaceful protest should be respected and not met with violence.
• Accusations against Yale Company for exploiting workers through anti-labor practices, including illegal casualization and inadequate compensation.
• A call for immediate intervention by the NLC and TUC to secure justice for the workers.

Asserting its continued support for Yale workers in particular, the party stated its support for Nigerian workers facing inhumane treatment from private and public industries.

“Lastly, we want to assure the Yale workers that the people of Oyo State are with them in this struggle, and the police should maintain neutrality.

“We call on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to intervene immediately, unionize Yale, get justice for workers, and ensure those who ordered the killings are made to face labor laws.

“AAC will continue to stand by Yale workers and all workers in Nigeria facing inhumane anti-labor practices from private and even the few public industries. Victory is guaranteed!” the statement read in part.