The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted claims that it extended the service year of a Lagos-based corps member, Rita Uguamaye—popularly known on TikTok as Raye—as punishment for her viral criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the state of the nation.
Raye had recently stirred nationwide attention after sharing a video on her TikTok handle, @talktoraye, where she condemned Nigeria’s economic hardship under the current administration. In the video, she lamented soaring inflation, widespread poverty, and what she described as deteriorating living conditions in Lagos, which she referred to as a “smelling state.” She also labelled President Tinubu as a “terrible leader,” sparking a firestorm of debate across social media platforms.
Following the backlash and reports of alleged threats from NYSC officials urging her to take down the video, Raye took to social media once more, claiming she was being intimidated for her views. Her allegation drew support from notable figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and activist Omoyele Sowore, who denounced any attempt to suppress her freedom of expression.
On Tuesday, Sowore posted a headline suggesting that the NYSC had extended Raye’s service year by two months in retaliation for her comments. He also vowed to stage a protest at the upcoming NYSC Passing Out Parade if the extension was not reversed.
“This Tinubu regime might go down with Rita Raye’s NYSC matter,” Sowore declared. “We will mobilise to the Passing Out Parade unless she’s allowed to complete her national service without harassment.”
However, when contacted by PUNCH Metro, NYSC’s Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, dismissed the allegation as unfounded and premature.
“She is still serving. How can we talk about an extension before her passing out date?” Embu asked. “NYSC is not an irresponsible organisation. We follow due process and regulations. If there are any infractions, they are treated at the point of passing out, not before.”
Embu also questioned the credibility of Sowore’s claims, saying, “Who is Sowore in this matter? Is he a staff of the NYSC?”
As of press time, Uguamaye herself had not posted any new content on her social media accounts confirming or denying an extension of her service year.
The NYSC insists that decisions regarding extensions are based strictly on official infractions, such as absenteeism or misconduct during service, and not on political commentary or personal opinions expressed on social media.
