NYSC Denies Extending Lagos Corper Raye’s Service Year Over Criticism of Tinubu

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied reports that it has extended the service year of a Lagos corper, Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, for criticizing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Raye had become an internet sensation after a video she posted on her TikTok account, @talktoraye, went viral, in which she expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and criticized President Tinubu’s leadership. She described the president as a “terrible leader” and questioned the government’s efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by citizens.

The video sparked widespread attention and debate, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express their support for Raye’s views. However, some officials of the NYSC were alleged to have threatened her and asked her to delete the video, a claim that was not commented on by the authority.

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, had condemned the alleged threat to Raye’s life and vowed to protest at the NYSC passing out parade if her service year was extended. He claimed that the NYSC had punitively extended Raye’s service year by two months for criticizing President Tinubu’s administration.

However, the NYSC has denied the claim, stating that the decision to extend a corps member’s service year is made when such a person is passing out, and that there are guidelines that would be followed if such an action were to be taken.

The acting NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, said that the organization is not an irresponsible body and works with rules and regulations. “She is still serving; if she has any issues, we will wait and see,” Embu said.

Efforts to independently verify the claim of service year extension from Raye were unsuccessful, and she did not make any post on such claim on her social media handles.

The incident has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the role of the NYSC in regulating the activities of corps members. While some have praised Raye for speaking out against the government, others have criticized her for using a public platform to express her views.

The NYSC has assured that it will follow due process and adhere to its rules and regulations in handling any issues that may arise during a corps member’s service year. The organization has also urged the public to disregard any rumors or misinformation that may be circulating about the incident.