The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has thrown its support behind a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, who claimed she received threats after criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, TUC President Festus Osifo defended Raye’s outburst, attributing it to widespread frustration among Nigerians.
He urged the government to be tolerant of criticism, rather than targeting individuals expressing their grievances.
Osifo stressed that the authorities must develop resilience and patience, acknowledging that many citizens are struggling with economic hardship.
“They (the 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 said.
He added that Raye’s comments reflected personal frustration rather than an attempt to destabilise the government.
Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, went viral after posting a video on TikTok in which she criticised government policies and described Tinubu as a “terrible leader.”
She lamented that hard work no longer guaranteed financial stability, expressing disillusionment with Nigeria’s economic situation.
Following the video’s circulation, Raye alleged that NYSC officials pressured her to take it down and that she had received threats over her remarks.
However, the NYSC has yet to issue an official response to the controversy.
