The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the mandatory service year of Ms. Rita Ushie—widely known by her Instagram moniker Raye—by two months in what critics are calling a clear act of retaliation against her for speaking out against the government’s economic policies.
Raye, a vibrant young corps member serving in Lagos, found herself at the centre of national controversy in March 2025 after she posted an emotional and brutally honest video online, lambasting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the deteriorating economic conditions plaguing everyday Nigerians.
In the viral video, Raye tearfully recounted her daily struggles as a corps member barely scraping by on the NYSC stipend amid soaring prices and a collapsing quality of life. “If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government,” she said. “Tinubu, you are a terrible president,” she added boldly—a comment that would soon come at a steep cost.
Within 24 hours of posting her grievances, she began receiving disturbing calls from NYSC officials, who allegedly pressured her to delete the video and refrain from making political statements. Days later, she was summoned to appear at the NYSC office in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. When she arrived accompanied by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and her legal team, the official who issued the summons mysteriously failed to show up.
Though the matter faded from headlines, it never disappeared behind the scenes.
On June 18, Raye was summoned again—this time to appear before a disciplinary panel at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. After a series of delays and a lack of formal documentation, she was eventually told her service year would be extended by two months—a decision widely viewed as punitive.
Jonathan Ugbal, South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, who has remained in close contact with Raye’s family, told CrossRiverWatch:
> “She travelled to Iyana Ipaja last Wednesday without receiving any formal invitation letter, only to be told to return again—despite the financial strain it placed on her. She finally met the panel and even offered apologies to NYSC staff who claimed they were hurt by public backlash.”
Ugbal added that Raye’s mother called him in tears, saying her daughter was inconsolable after being informed that her service year had been extended. “I tried reaching her, but she was too emotionally drained to speak,” he said.
In her original video posted on TikTok (@talktoraye), Raye gave voice to the silent despair of millions of young Nigerians. She bemoaned the skyrocketing costs of basic goods—“a crate of eggs for N6,500, when it used to cost N800”—and described the psychological toll of trying to survive in Lagos.
“Everything smells. Bills are insane. NEPA, security, food—everything is beyond what we can afford,” she cried. “There’s nothing beneficial about this NYSC scheme when your monthly allowance doesn’t even cover your transport fares. Uber is now N25,000 for basic trips!”
She further questioned the purpose of serving a country where basic dignity and affordability are increasingly elusive. “We should start calling out the government,” she urged.
Her bravery was applauded by many Nigerians and civil society organisations who viewed her outburst not as insubordination, but as a necessary cry for accountability in a nation drowning in inflation and hardship.
However, rather than engaging with her concerns, NYSC chose to reprimand her.
The NYSC has remained tight-lipped about the situation, offering no official statement regarding the rationale behind the extended service year—raising questions about due process and the agency’s stance on freedom of expression for Nigerian youth under its care.
The episode has now become a symbol of a deeper national tension—between a generation demanding answers and a system that often punishes dissent.
As debates rage on social media and in civil society circles, Raye’s story stands as a stark reminder that in Nigeria today, telling the truth can come with a price.
PIONEER NEWS 