The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has summoned Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member serving in Lagos State after she criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a viral social media post.
In a tearful video posted on TikTok under the handle @talktoraye, Rita expressed frustration over the rising cost of goods in Nigeria, describing Tinubu as a “terrible” president”.
Rita lamented the financial struggles she faces as a corps member, stating that the monthly NYSC allowance is insufficient to cover basic living expenses. “The money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us,” she said. “Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills”.
She also criticized the government’s handling of the economy, saying, “If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government.” Rita questioned the government’s response to the rising cost of living, asking, “What is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up?”.
After posting the video, Rita received multiple calls from NYSC officials, urging her to delete the video and stop criticizing the government. One official was heard asking, “Are you normal?” and telling her to “pull down that rubbish you put there”.
Rita expressed concern that corps members are required to provide their phone numbers and addresses on forms, making her vulnerable to threats. “These people know my address and where I live, and now they’ve begun threatening me,” she said. “It is so bad that you can’t even just speak up about the government because they feel like they have chains to hold you”.
The incident has sparked widespread debate, with many Nigerians questioning whether corps members should be restricted from sharing their opinions about governance and national matters.
