The president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, who has lent a voice to the ongoing issue between a corps member and the management of the National Youth Service Corps has asked the government to be more tolerant of critics.
The Corp member, Ushie Uguamaye had in a viral video lamented about the hardship faced by Nigerians as a result of President Tinubu’s economic reforms.
The video had gotten the attention of the management of the National Youth Service Corps, and they threatened her to take it down, which she refused. She has also been summoned by her Local Government Inspector in Lagos where she is currently serving.
The NYSC is yet to release an official statement regarding the issue, as the matter continues to elicit public opinion on social media.
However, the TUC President, as well as other individuals have asked the government not to go after her but to be tolerant of critics.
The TUC boss said, “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.”
The TUC boss, however, advised critics to always criticise the government within the expected norm and with some level of decorum.
Similarly, Amnesty International on Sunday also condemned the alleged threats and intimidation being faced by the Lagos-based corps member.
It said that the Federal Government must stop threatening individuals and groups who criticise the current administration.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the organisation in a statement on its X handle.
