NYSC Allegedly Extends Corps Member Raye’s Service Year Over Viral Criticism of Tinubu

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has allegedly extended the service year of Ms. Rita Ushie, popularly known as Raye on Instagram and TikTok, by two months following her viral criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the economic hardship in the country.

Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, attracted nationwide attention in March 2025 after posting an emotional video on TikTok where she lamented the rising cost of living in Nigeria, describing the Tinubu administration as “terrible” and accusing it of failing to address the suffering of ordinary citizens. In the viral video, she questioned the government’s inaction over the incessant price hikes, citing the soaring cost of food, bills, and transportation.

She particularly lamented that a crate of eggs had risen to ₦6,500, recalling when it cost ₦800. She described her struggles with utility bills, expensive ride-hailing services, and how her NYSC monthly allowance could no longer sustain her. According to her, the NYSC scheme had little or no benefit under the current economic realities. “Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills,” she said. “For example, Tinubu, you are a terrible person. What are you doing to help our economy?”

Shortly after the video went viral, Raye claimed she received multiple phone calls from NYSC officials, urging her to delete the video and stop making political comments. Less than 24 hours later, she shared another video where she was seen receiving a call from an NYSC official warning her about her online posts. On March 16, 2025, she revealed that she had been summoned to the NYSC office at Eti-Osa Local Government Area. However, when she arrived at the office accompanied by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and her legal representatives, the official who issued the summons was reportedly unavailable.

The matter appeared to quiet down for a few months until Wednesday, June 18, when Raye was again summoned—this time to appear before a disciplinary panel at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. According to Jonathan Ugbal, South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement who has been in contact with Raye’s family, she travelled to the camp without receiving any formal letter. He alleged that after repeated delays, she was finally informed that her service year had been extended by two months.

“She went there eventually and faced them, apologising to the staff who felt hurt due to the backlash they received from the public,” Ugbal told reporters. “However, her mother called me moments ago to inform me that she called crying over the phone, that her service year has been extended. I have reached out to her, but she is not in a good frame of mind to speak.”

The NYSC has not issued any official statement confirming the service extension or detailing the reason behind the alleged disciplinary action. The development has triggered strong reactions from civil rights advocates and social media users, many of whom believe the action amounts to silencing free speech. Critics argue that corps members, like all Nigerians, are constitutionally entitled to express their views on national issues.

Raye’s original video struck a nerve among many young Nigerians who share similar economic frustrations. In her post, she detailed how difficult it had become to survive in Lagos on a fixed monthly stipend, citing the doubling of electricity bills, rent, and daily living costs. She also criticised the poor hygiene and deteriorating conditions of public spaces in the city.

She further expressed that the NYSC scheme was failing to meet the current realities, stating that corps members spend more on transport and survival than they receive in federal allowance. “There is nothing so beneficial about this scheme,” she said. “The money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us.”

The NYSC’s alleged decision to punish her with a service extension has reignited public debates over whether corps members should be punished for political expression. Many Nigerians have questioned if the move aligns with the fundamental right to freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution.

Legal experts and rights groups have warned that such actions, if true, could amount to administrative overreach, especially if no formal charge or misconduct was communicated to the corps member. Critics have also raised concerns about transparency in how NYSC disciplinary processes are conducted.

As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the NYSC authorities for comment have been unsuccessful. Raye has also not issued any further public statement, and supporters say she remains emotionally distressed over the development.