“NYSC Is Not an Irresponsible Organisation” – Corps Denies Punishing Raye Over Tinubu Criticism

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted claims that it extended the service year of Rita Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member popularly known as “Raye,” as a form of punishment for her viral criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the prevailing economic situation in Nigeria.

Raye had sparked widespread attention after posting a video on her TikTok account, @talktoraye, where she strongly criticised the Tinubu-led administration, lamenting the high cost of living and describing the president as a “terrible leader.” She also made controversial remarks about Lagos, calling it a “smelling state” with poor living conditions.

Following the viral video, Raye alleged in another post that she was facing pressure from NYSC officials to delete the video, claiming she was being threatened over her comments. However, the NYSC has not addressed those specific allegations.

Amid growing public attention, reports surfaced on social media suggesting that the NYSC had extended her service year by two months as a disciplinary measure. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar both expressed concerns over the alleged retaliation. Sowore even vowed to protest at the NYSC Passing Out Parade if the extension was enforced.

Responding to the allegations, NYSC’s Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, dismissed the reports. She stated that such a decision can only be made when a corps member is due to pass out and must follow laid-down guidelines.

“NYSC is not an irresponsible organisation; we work with rules and regulations. She is still serving. If she has any issues, we will wait and see,” Embu told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday. She also questioned the credibility of information coming from outside sources, particularly Sowore.

As of press time, newsmen could not independently confirm if Raye’s service year had indeed been extended, as she had not posted any updates on her social media handles confirming such a development.

The controversy comes amid ongoing national conversations about freedom of expression, youth engagement in politics, and the role of institutions in responding to public criticism of government figures.