Ushie Rita, a Youth Corper, is Escorted by Attorneys to Appear Before LGI Today.

Human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore accompanied Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a youth corps member, as she was summoned by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) due to her social media criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Rita appeared before the Local Government Inspector (LGI) today in Lagos. The NYSC has called upon Ushie Rita Uguamaye, who is currently serving in Lagos State, following her widely circulated social media post that criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government. On Sunday, a communication from the NYSC LGI directed Rita, identified by code number LA/24B/832, to report to the Eti Osa 3 local government office by 10 a.m. on Monday without exception. In a TikTok video shared under the username @talktoraye, Rita expressed her distress over the escalating prices of goods in Nigeria, which resonated with many viewers and prompted the NYSC's intervention. In her video, she labeled Tinubu a “terrible” president and accused the administration of ignoring the economic difficulties faced by the populace. “If many Nigerians begin to voice their experiences, perhaps the government will implement necessary changes,” she stated in her TikTok post. “I cannot think of any other president as ineffective as you; you truly are a terrible president.” Rita also shared her personal financial challenges as a corps member, indicating that the monthly NYSC stipend is inadequate to meet her basic living costs.

She noted that her expenses often exceed her income due to the soaring prices of essential goods. “I just returned from a supermarket where I went to buy groceries, and everything has increased in price once again. It seems that every week, prices are on the rise. I want to understand what the government is doing to address this inflation. Will there ever be a time when prices stabilize?” she questioned. Why am I being quoted N6,500 for a crate of eggs? It seems unreasonable for eggs to be priced so high. I distinctly recall when the cost was merely N800. I am feeling quite overwhelmed, especially since this is my first experience living away from my family home. After leaving the supermarket, I returned home to find that both security and electricity bills have surged, now costing double what they used to. This situation is absurd. I am struggling to manage these expenses, as every cent I earn is directed towards paying bills. Moreover, the cost of transportation is outrageous; for instance, an Uber ride now costs N25,000. Why are prices so inflated? To add to my frustrations, the unpleasant odor in Lagos is pervasive. What actions is the government taking to address this issue? As an NYSC corps member, I find little value in this scheme. The amount I spend on transportation far exceeds the allowance provided by the federal government. It is time to hold the government accountable. For instance, President Tinubu, your actions are disappointing. What measures are you implementing to improve our economy? Less than a day after I posted a video criticizing President Tinubu, I received a call from an NYSC official. The corps member disclosed that she had been inundated with calls from NYSC representatives, urging her to refrain from criticizing the government and to remove the video. She stated, “Yesterday, I posted a video discussing the Nigerian government and expressing my discontent with President Tinubu, during which I was visibly upset. Just thirty minutes ago, I received a call from the NYSC board, starting with the secretariat and then the LGI. I will share some of the details from that conversation for you to hear.” In her dialogue with the NYSC official, the official questioned her sanity, asking, “Are you normal?” Raye responded by clarifying that she was not disrespecting the president. The official replied, “Come on, be quiet. Remove that nonsense you posted. You are not speaking to someone of your age.” Rita then inquired, Rita shared her experience, stating, “She called me and was shouting at me to remove the video.” She voiced her apprehension regarding the requirement for corps members to submit their phone numbers and addresses on official forms, expressing, “These individuals are aware of my address and where I reside, and they have started to threaten me.” She remarked, “The situation is so dire that one cannot even voice concerns about the government without feeling restrained. She accused me of insulting the president. I never insulted him; I merely stated that he is terrible. That is not an insult; it is a fact.” “NYSC has my home address, and they have begun calling me with threats, so if anything were to happen, people would know where the issue originated.” “I am feeling depressed, and my bank account is dwindling to nothing, yet I must continue to live each day. I urge the Nigerian government to address the inflation crisis. Instead of receiving a call saying, ‘We are addressing the issue,’ I am met with calls stating, ‘You are very foolish. Why did you do that to Tinubu? Remove that video.’” This situation has sparked reactions among Nigerians, with many questioning whether corps members should be allowed to express their opinions on governance and national matters.