By Comfort Onaiwu
A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos, Ushie Uguamaye, has alleged facing intimidation after posting a viral video in which she criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration over rising inflation and economic difficulties.
In a video shared on her TikTok account (@talktoraye) on Saturday, March 15, 2025, Uguamaye voiced her frustration over the worsening economic conditions, stating that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability. She accused President Tinubu of poor leadership and questioned his administration’s commitment to alleviating citizens’ struggles.
She also expressed her displeasure with Lagos State, describing it as a “smelling state” due to poor environmental conditions and substandard living standards.
Following the viral spread of her video, Uguamaye alleged that she began receiving threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, who pressured her to delete the content. She took to Instagram (@iamraye__) to express concern over what she perceived as attempts to silence her.
According to her, NYSC officials had obtained her personal details, including her home address, and were persistently reaching out to her. She claimed they had summoned her to their office on Monday, March 17, 2025, raising concerns about potential disciplinary actions.
In response to the backlash, Uguamaye insisted she was simply exercising her constitutional right to freedom of expression and had not violated any NYSC regulations. She emphasized that serving in the NYSC program did not strip her of her citizenship rights or the ability to speak out on national issues.
“Dear Nigerians, I am already receiving threats from the NYSC board, pressuring me to stop talking about this. Within 24 hours, they’ve started intimidating me, beginning with the NYSC officials. They have my address. If I suddenly go silent, you all know who to hold accountable,” she wrote.
Her allegations have sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether the NYSC has the authority to restrict corps members from expressing their views on national matters.
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