NYSC Member Claims Threats Over Anti-Tinubu Remarks, Freedom of Speech

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos, Ushie Uguamaye, has raised concerns about alleged threats she has received after posting a video criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In the viral TikTok video, Uguamaye expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, particularly the rising inflation and financial instability affecting the average citizen. She voiced her discontent with the government’s handling of the nation’s problems, directly criticizing the president and questioning the administration’s actions.

In the video, which she shared on her TikTok account, #talktoraye, Uguamaye called President Tinubu a “terrible leader” and described the government’s efforts to address the economic hardship as inadequate. She also spoke out about the living conditions in Lagos, calling the state a “smelling state” and citing poor hygiene and infrastructure as key issues plaguing the city. Uguamaye’s candid remarks resonated with many Nigerians, drawing significant attention across social media platforms.

However, after the video gained widespread attention, Uguamaye claims she began receiving threats from NYSC officials, urging her to remove the video. She further alleged that the NYSC had pressured her to take down the content or face consequences. In an emotional post on her Instagram account (#iamraye__), she shared her distress and the ongoing threats she was receiving, expressing her belief that the government was trying to silence her for speaking out.

“Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue,” Uguamaye wrote in her Instagram post. “Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government starting with the NYSC board!” She continued by stating that her personal safety was at risk, claiming that the NYSC had her address and warning that if she suddenly stopped posting, the public should know who to hold accountable.

In the same post, Uguamaye emphasized that she had done nothing wrong, asserting that she had merely spoken out against the economic challenges facing the country. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just asked that they work on the inflation,” she wrote. She further questioned why it was wrong for her, as an NYSC member, to exercise her right to speak up, stating, “Being an NYSC corper doesn’t mean I signed up my right to complain.”

The NYSC’s alleged actions have sparked a broader debate about freedom of speech and the rights of young Nigerians serving in the program. Uguamaye’s post continued with a poignant message, “Why can’t the government listen to the critics of its citizens? They believe they have a chain on me, which is NYSC, and they are using it to hold me. I didn’t do anything wrong. I criticised your government and I demand that we are being heard.”

Uguamaye also pointed out that removing the video would not protect her from potential retaliation. “Deleting this content is of no use: because they already know me,” she explained. “However, deleting it means whatever they do to me, nobody would know.” She insisted that she would not delete the video to avoid any potential punishment that might follow, stressing that she was exercising her rights to free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution.

As the controversy escalates, Uguamaye’s situation has sparked concern among other members of the NYSC, with many questioning the limits of free expression within the program. “I’m getting tons of messages like this from my fellow corpers. What is wrong with just one person complaining?” she asked. The alleged threats have raised important questions about the NYSC’s role in limiting the freedom of its members, and whether the program should restrict their ability to express dissenting views.

Uguamaye concluded her post by urging the NYSC to refrain from intimidating her and other corps members. “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,” she said, requesting that the organization leave her alone and allow her to continue expressing her opinions freely. She further questioned whether being an NYSC member removed her rights as a Nigerian citizen, highlighting the tension between government authority and the personal freedoms of young Nigerians.