Viral Video: Corps member spoke out of frustration, don’t go after her – TUC begs Nigerian govt
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Nigerian government to exercise patience and tolerance towards a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Raye, who recently expressed her frustration with the administration of President Bola Tinubu in a viral TikTok video.
In the video, Raye, who is serving in Lagos, criticized the economic policies of the government, highlighting the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians as a result of recent reforms.
Her remarks quickly garnered attention and sparked widespread debate on social media. Following the viral spread of her video, Raye claimed that officials from the NYSC had contacted her, threatening her to remove the video.
In an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, TUC President Festus Osifo urged the federal government to refrain from taking action against the corps member.
He stated that Raye’s outburst was a product of frustration rather than an intentional attack on the government.
Osifo stressed that the administration must learn to be more resilient in the face of public dissent, pointing out that many Nigerians are struggling with economic difficulties and should not be persecuted for expressing their frustrations.
“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 patient with Nigerians because people are passing through a lot as it stands today,” TUC boss said.
Osifo further called for greater tolerance from the government, suggesting that criticism should be met with understanding rather than punitive measures.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has also weighed in on the situation, condemning the alleged threats made against Uguamaye.
In a statement released via its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the organization urged the Nigerian authorities to halt the intimidation of individuals who speak out against the administration, stressing that freedom of speech is a fundamental right protected under both Nigerian law and international conventions.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions – in utter disregard for the Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the statement read.
