TUC Urges Government to Tolerate Criticism Amid Alleged Intimidation of Corps Member

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the federal government to refrain from persecuting a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, who allegedly faced threats after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a viral video. Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member, voiced her frustration on TikTok over the hardships Nigerians are facing due to the government’s economic policies.

Uguamaye’s video, which criticized the Tinubu administration, quickly gained attention and reportedly led to her being summoned by NYSC officials, who allegedly threatened her to delete the video. The controversy has sparked public debate over the treatment of critics in Nigeria, particularly in the wake of economic challenges faced by many citizens.

TUC President Festus Osifo, speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, urged the government to exercise tolerance toward critics. “The government must develop resilience and understand that people are frustrated, people are hungry, and people are tired,” Osifo stated. “If they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalize it and come after such individuals.”

Osifo emphasized that Uguamaye’s criticism was a result of personal frustration, not an attempt to undermine the government. “Imagine a young lady carrying out her NYSC function, what does she really have to do to bring down the government?” he asked. “It is about personal frustration that she has aired.” He further advised that the government should be more patient with Nigerians, as many are enduring significant challenges.

The TUC leader also suggested that while it is important for citizens to voice their opinions, such criticism should be done within the norms of civility. “Critics must express their dissent within expected standards and with some level of decorum,” he noted, calling for a balanced approach to holding the government accountable.

In addition to Osifo’s remarks, Amnesty International has also condemned the alleged threats against Uguamaye. The human rights organization issued a statement expressing concern over the intimidation faced by the corps member and urged the Nigerian government to cease such practices. “The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions,” Amnesty wrote on its X handle.

Amnesty’s statement emphasized that holding and voicing dissenting views is a constitutional right, protected both by Nigerian law and international human rights agreements. The organization called on the government to respect these rights and foster an environment where free expression is not met with hostility or intimidation.