‘Nigerians are frustrated’ — TUC backs NYSC member ‘threatened’ for criticising Tinubu

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has backed Ushie Uguamaye aka Raye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who claimed to have received threats for criticising President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Festus Osifo, TUC president, said Raye spoke out of frustration.

He also advised citizens not to go overboard with their criticisms. 

“Government has to develop the resilience to understand that people are frustrated, hungry and tired. So, if they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalise it and go after such individuals,” he said.

“Imagine a young lady carrying out her NYSC function, what does she really have to do to bring down the government? So, it is about personal frustration that she has aired. 

“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, who is serving in Lagos, made headlines on Saturday when she posted a video criticising government policies.

She also claimed to have been threatened by NYSC officials who asked her to delete the video posted on her TikTok account. 

In the video, she expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economy and inflation, lamenting that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability. 

The video shows her calling Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioning the government’s commitment to easing the prevailing hardship.  

The NYSC is yet to release an official statement on the issue.