Deborah Akinyosoye
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed support for Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Ushie Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, who alleged she received threats after criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, acknowledged the frustration behind Raye’s remarks. He urged the government to show tolerance toward critics rather than targeting individuals for expressing their views.
“They (the government) have to develop this resilience to understand that people are frustrated, people are hungry, people are tired,” Osifo stated. “So, if they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalise it and come after such individuals.”
Addressing Raye’s situation specifically, Osifo questioned the rationale behind any alleged threats against her.
“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,” he said.
“The government has to persevere much more, be more tolerant, and have a deep level of patience with Nigerians because people are passing through a lot as it stands today.”
Raye recently gained attention after a video she posted criticising government policies went viral. In the video, shared on her TikTok account @talktoraye, she expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, stating that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability. She labelled Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioned the administration’s commitment to easing citizens’ hardships.
Following the video’s circulation, Raye claimed she faced threats allegedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take it down.
Since Raye alleged threats to her life prominent Nigerians including a former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s governorship in the 2023 election in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhode-Vivour; human rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), have expressed concerns and backed the Lagos youth corper.
However, the NYSC has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.