Omotayo Adigun
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the service year of Ms. Rita Ushie, popularly known on Instagram as Raye, by two months following her viral social media video criticizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and highlighting the economic hardships faced by young Nigerians.
Raye, who had just one month left in her mandatory national service, gained national attention in March 2025 after posting an emotional video in which she lamented the rising cost of living and the inadequacy of the NYSC allowance. In the video, she described the Tinubu-led government as “terrible” and questioned the government’s efforts to ease the economic burden on citizens.
The video quickly went viral, prompting both sympathy and backlash. Raye later claimed she received threatening calls from NYSC officials who warned her to delete the video and refrain from further criticism of the government.
The situation escalated when she was summoned to appear before NYSC officials at the Eti-Osa Local Governmentoffice. However, according to reports, the official who issued the summons was unavailable when Raye appeared, accompanied by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and her legal team.
The matter resurfaced on Wednesday, June 18, when Raye was again summoned—this time to the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos—to face a disciplinary panel. According to Jonathan Ugbal, South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, the process was marred by delays and a lack of official documentation.
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“Upon her arrival last Wednesday, without any official letter, she was told to return later. She eventually met with officials, apologised for any perceived harm, but was later informed that her service year would be extended by two months,” Ugbal told CrossRiverWatch.
The decision has sparked fresh outrage from civil rights groups and social media users, who argue that the NYSC is punishing Raye for exercising her constitutional right to free speech.
As the controversy unfolds, many are watching to see how NYSC and the federal government address the growing tension between national service obligations and the right to dissent.