A Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, has alleged that she has been facing threats after posting a viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration over inflation and economic hardship in Nigeria.
In the video, which was shared on her TikTok account (@talktoraye) on Saturday, Uguamaye expressed deep frustration about the country’s worsening economic conditions, stating that hard work seems futile amid financial struggles.
She went further to describe President Tinubu as a “terrible leader”, questioning the government’s efforts to alleviate citizens’ suffering. Additionally, she criticised Lagos State, referring to it as a “smelling state”, citing poor living conditions and environmental issues.
Following the widespread circulation of her video, Uguamaye claimed that she began to receive threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, who pressured her to take down the content.
In response to the backlash, she took to Instagram (@iamraye__) to express her frustration over what she described as attempts to silence her, insisting that she only spoke the truth about Nigeria’s realities.
“Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue. Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government, starting with the NYSC board!” she wrote.
Raising concerns for her safety, she added, “Dear Nigerians, they have my address. In case you guys don’t see me online, please you know who to hold accountable. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just asked that they work on the inflation.”
“Why can’t I speak up? Being an NYSC corper doesn’t mean I signed away my right to complain. Why can’t the government listen to the criticisms of its citizens?”
Uguamaye also alleged that NYSC officials were actively searching for her, claiming that an officer was asking people to “point her out” as though she were a criminal.
“She’s asking people to identify me? I’m not a criminal. Reading the NYSC rules, I didn’t commit any crime. Ask the NYSC lady to stop asking people to point me out—at this point, she’s acting scary.”
Despite mounting pressure, she maintained that she would not delete her video, arguing that doing so could put her at greater risk.
“Deleting this content is of no use because they already know me. However, deleting it means whatever they do to me, nobody would know. If they decide to give me a hefty punishment, nobody would know because I used my own hands to cover it by deleting what I started.”
Uguamaye emphasised that she only exercised her constitutional right to free speech, insisting that NYSC membership does not strip corps members of their fundamental rights.
“All I did was lament, all I did was complain. I’m getting tons of messages like this from my fellow corpers. What is wrong with just one person complaining? Why are they looking for me like I’m a criminal?*
“I made sure not to accuse the government of anything maliciously! I questioned them. I asked questions. As an NYSC corper, I didn’t sign off my freedom of speech.”
She also claimed that she had received direct messages revealing that her personal details had been shared with those trying to track her down.
“They keep calling me, and I’ve switched off my phones. Now, they are texting me my personal details on WhatsApp to inform me they know me well.
“Dear NYSC, if you say a corper has faulted, you wouldn’t treat them like this and scare them! You are scaring me for my dear life. Please, leave me alone.
“You told me to report to the office on Monday. Okay! What else? Why are you looking for me? I just exercised my right to free speech, which is the right of every citizen—unless they tell me that being an NYSC corper removes me from being a citizen.”
Uguamaye’s allegations have sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether the NYSC is suppressing free speech among corps members.
While some argued that NYSC members should abide by certain restrictions as temporary government employees, others insisted that freedom of expression is a fundamental right that must be protected, regardless of NYSC status.
