Drama as NYSC officials fail to appear after summoning Corps member over viral video

Officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos failed to show up for a scheduled meeting on Monday after summoning a corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, over her viral TikTok video criticizing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI) in Eti-Osa had directed Uguamaye to appear at their office after her video—where she lamented rising food prices under the current government—gained widespread attention online.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, the NYSC officials absconded from duty, failing to attend the meeting.

The situation took a dramatic twist when human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and a team of lawyers accompanied Uguamaye to the NYSC office on Monday morning in a show of solidarity.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore confirmed that despite their presence, no NYSC official showed up.

“We arrived at the Eti-Osa LGI offices of @officialnyscng with youth corper Ushie Rita Uguamaye in Lagos. She was scheduled to appear before the LGI today, and we escorted her to their offices with attorneys @mrfestusogun, @yinka_oyesomi, and @justiceojienoh, but the LGI official had absconded, failing to show up throughout our stay.”

The activist condemned the NYSC’s actions, describing them as an attempt to intimidate a young Nigerian for expressing her opinion on pressing economic issues.

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Following the incident, prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, expressed their support for Uguamaye.

Atiku, in a statement, called on the government to respect citizens’ rights to free speech, emphasizing that the young corps member should not be victimized for voicing concerns affecting millions of Nigerians.

Obi also weighed in, urging authorities to prioritize addressing the economic hardships Nigerians are facing rather than persecuting those who speak out.

“Nigeria is a democracy, and citizens must be free to express their grievances without fear of intimidation. Instead of going after a young woman for lamenting the high cost of living, the government should focus on providing solutions.”

The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians criticizing the NYSC for what they see as an attempt to stifle free speech.

Legal analyst Festus Ogun argued that the NYSC had no legal basis for summoning Uguamaye in the first place.

“The NYSC Act does not give officials the power to punish corps members for expressing personal opinions, especially when they are not inciting violence. This is a clear case of intimidation.”

Similarly, media rights advocate Yinka Oyesomi described the situation as an abuse of authority, stating that NYSC officials should focus on their core duties rather than engaging in political witch-hunts.

With increasing public scrutiny on the matter, it remains unclear whether the NYSC will proceed with any disciplinary actions against Uguamaye. However, given the strong backing she has received from activists, lawyers, and political figures, the corps member appears unlikely to face further harassment.

As the debate over free speech and governance accountability continues, many Nigerians see this incident as a test of the administration’s commitment to democratic principles and the protection of civil liberties.