By Idris Auwal
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted claims that it extended the service year of Lagos-based corps member, Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, as punishment for her social media criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
Uguamaye recently went viral for a TikTok video in which she voiced her discontent with Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, accusing the president of poor leadership and lamenting the conditions in Lagos State.
In the video posted to her TikTok account, @talktoraye, Uguamaye expressed frustration over high inflation and economic hardship in the country. She openly called President Tinubu a “terrible leader” and criticized what she perceived as inadequate government efforts to alleviate public suffering. She also described Lagos as a “smelling state,” citing poor living standards as part of the challenges young Nigerians face.
Following the video’s widespread circulation, Uguamaye alleged in a follow-up post that she was being harassed by NYSC officials, claiming they pressured her to delete the video. Although the NYSC did not comment directly on the harassment claims, the allegations sparked a wave of reactions from public figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and activist Omoyele Sowore, both of whom condemned the reported threats.
In a post on Tuesday, Sowore shared a news headline suggesting that Uguamaye’s service year had been extended by two months as a punitive measure. He criticized the alleged action and warned that he and other supporters would stage a protest at the NYSC Passing Out Parade if the matter was not addressed. “We will mobilise down to the Passing Out Parade except Rita is allowed to complete her NYSC national service without let or hindrance,” he stated.
However, in response, the NYSC’s acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, dismissed the allegations as baseless. “NYSC is not an irresponsible organisation; we work with rules and regulations,” she said. Embu clarified that any decision regarding an extension of service is only taken at the end of the service year and based on clear infractions, not on personal opinions expressed by corps members.
As of press time, Uguamaye had not posted any confirmation of a service year extension on her social media platforms, and our correspondent could not independently verify the claim. The controversy continues to stir debate on freedom of expression, especially as it relates to youth in government programs like the NYSC.