The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has debunked claims that it extended the service year of Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos State, in retaliation for her public criticism of President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions.
Raye sparked widespread social media attention after she posted a viral video on TikTok via her handle, @talktoraye, in which she lamented the country’s high inflation and deteriorating living standards.
In the video, she described President Tinubu as a “terrible leader” and expressed frustration over the government’s perceived failure to address the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
Raye also did not hold back in her assessment of Lagos, calling it a “smelling state” plagued by “poor living conditions.”
Shortly after the video gained traction online, Raye released another post alleging that NYSC officials were pressuring her to delete the initial video.
She claimed she was being threatened for “speaking the truth” about the state of the nation, although she did not provide evidence to support the alleged threats.
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Her claims drew swift attention from political and civil rights figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who both condemned what they described as an attempt to suppress her freedom of expression.
Sowore, in a post on social media, warned that the situation could escalate if the NYSC attempted to punish Raye for her comments.
“This Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime might go down with Rita Raye’s National Youth Service Corps matter,” he wrote.
“We will mobilise down to the Passing Out Parade except Rita is allowed to complete her NYSC national service without let or hindrance.”
Responding to the controversy, the acting NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, dismissed the allegations, stating that the Corps had not taken any disciplinary action against Uguamaye, nor had it extended her service year.
“The NYSC is not an irresponsible organisation; we work with rules and regulations. She is still serving. If there are any issues, we’ll wait and see,” Embu said in a phone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.
“Who is Sowore? Does he work with NYSC? I don’t understand how she would get an extension if she is still serving.”
She explained that a corps member’s service year can only be extended based on clear violations of NYSC rules and only at the point of passing out — not during active service.
Meanwhile, no official NYSC document or post from Raye herself has confirmed any extension of her service year as of the time of filing this report. Attempts to reach her for direct confirmation proved unsuccessful, and her social media platforms carried no new updates on the issue.
The controversy continues to spark debates over free speech, youth activism, and institutional accountability, especially in a digital age where social commentary by young Nigerians often collides with official sensitivities.