Strike action: Youth coalition backs NLC, mobilizes two million protesters

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) declared that it has mobilized at least two million people in the region to join the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Politics Nigeria understands that the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have slated today, Wednesday, August 2, for their strike and nationwide mass protests following the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.

The decision was as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to reach an agreement with organized labour as the two-day meeting between the duo ended in a deadlock on Tuesday.

NLC and TUC are demanding palliatives and other measures that would mitigate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Speaking on the planned protest on Tuesday, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said in a statement that the organised labour had no reason to suspend the planned national protest.

Ajaero spoke a few hours after another round of meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, deadlocked.

Backing the move by NLC, COSEYL, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem said its members were in full support, stressing that the protest became necessary following the unbearable hardship being faced by Nigerians.