The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has yet to comment on the allegations of threats made by Ushie Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member, who claims she has been threatened for criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Uguamaye, in a now-viral TikTok video posted on Saturday, expressed frustration over Nigeria’s economic decline, pointing out high inflation and widespread hardship.
She criticized President Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader” and questioning the government’s efforts to ease citizens’ suffering. She also referred to Lagos State as a “smelling state” and criticized its poor living conditions.
The video quickly gained traction across social media platforms, sparking discussions about the state of the nation.
After the video went viral, Uguamaye shared another clip, claiming that NYSC officials had threatened her, asking her to delete the video. She insisted that she had merely spoken the truth about the country’s problems.
Uguamaye warned her followers of potential consequences, stating, “Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue.
In less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government, starting with the NYSC board!” She further expressed concern that the NYSC had her address and hinted at the possibility of facing punishment for her views.
She emphasized her right to freedom of speech, stating that being an NYSC corper should not mean giving up her right to criticize the government. She refused to delete the video, believing it would cover up any unjust treatment she might face.
Uguamaye urged the NYSC to stop threatening her and to allow her to exercise her right to speak out against the government.
“Why can’t the government listen to the criticisms of its citizens? They believe they have a chain on me, which is NYSC, and they are using it to hold me. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just asked that they work on the inflation,” she said.
When contacted for comment, NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Edwin Megwa, did not respond to calls or messages by the time of publication.
Uguamaye’s allegations have sparked mixed reactions. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar praised her courage, describing her as a symbol of a new generation of women committed to political engagement and democratic advocacy. He compared her to iconic female activists such as Gambo Sawaba and Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti.
The Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also weighed in, urging President Tinubu to instruct the NYSC to stop harassing Uguamaye. SERAP emphasized that freedom of speech is a fundamental right, and no one should be threatened for criticizing the government.
While some social media users have rallied behind Uguamaye, others have condemned her actions.
