…Rights Groups Kick NYSC’s Action
A Nigerian corps member, Rita Ushie—known online as Raye—has had her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year extended by two months after posting a viral TikTok video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The move, which follows her March post describing Nigeria’s economic crisis and calling the Tinubu-led government “terrible”, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates who say it violates her right to free speech.
Raye, who had only a few weeks left in her service, alleged in the video that NYSC officials pressured her to remove the post. Following this, she faced multiple summonses and eventually appeared before a disciplinary panel at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
According to South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Jonathan Ugbal, on Tuesday Raye received no prior formal notice before being informed of the 60-day extension.
“She was simply told after the hearing that her service had been extended,” Mr Ugbal said. “Her mother called me, saying she was in tears after hearing the news.”
He noted that Raye had complied with all instructions despite financial hardship, and had even issued an apology to NYSC officials who felt embarrassed by the video.
“To date, the NYSC has offered no official explanation for the sanction,” Mr Ugbal added.
Civil society groups have condemned the action as repressive and indicative of broader intolerance towards dissent under the current administration.
