The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has thrown its support behind a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, who alleged she received threats for openly criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
TUC President Festus Osifo, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, said Raye’s remarks stemmed from frustration, urging the government to be tolerant of dissenting voices rather than silencing them.
“They (government) have to develop this resilience to understand that people are frustrated, people are hungry, people are tired. So, if they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalise it and come after such individuals,” Osifo stated.
He also advised critics to express their grievances with decorum but insisted that the government must exercise patience.
“Imagine a young lady carrying out her NYSC function, what does she really have to do to bring down government? So, it is about personal frustration that she has aired.
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“So, I think that the government has to persevere much more, they have to be more tolerant, and they have to have this deep level of patience with Nigerians because people are passing through a lot as it stands today.”
Raye recently gained public attention after a viral video she posted on TikTok, where she condemned the country’s worsening economic situation and accused the Tinubu administration of failing to alleviate citizens’ suffering.
She described the president as a “terrible leader” and expressed concerns that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability in Nigeria.
Following the video, Raye claimed she faced threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the post.
Despite the controversy, the NYSC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
