- Lagos corps member Raye gained attention after her viral video criticised government policies and leadership under President Bola Tinubu.
- Raye claimed NYSC officials pressured her to delete a video where she expressed frustration about Nigeria’s economic situation.
The Trade Union Congress has expressed support for a National Youth Service Corps member in Lagos, Ushie Uguamaye, known as Raye, who alleged threats for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explained that she voiced frustration and advised the government to tolerate rather than target critics.
The TUC leader, however, urged individuals who criticise the government to always do so within acceptable norms and to maintain a certain level of courtesy.
He stated, “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.”
“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.”
“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, a Lagos-based corps member, gained public attention after a widely shared video surfaced online in which she criticised government policies and expressed her dissatisfaction.
She later stated that she had received threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, who pressured her to remove the video from public view.
In a video shared through her TikTok account #talktoraye on Saturday, Raye expressed frustration about Nigeria’s worsening economy, stating that hard work no longer ensures financial security.
She condemned Tinubu’s leadership, referring to him as a “terrible leader,” and questioned whether the government was truly committed to reducing citizens’ economic struggles.
However, the NYSC has not yet provided an official statement addressing the ongoing controversy regarding the situation.