Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to immediately rescind its decision to withhold the discharge certificate of corps member Rita Uguamaye, popularly called “Raye,” despite her successful completion of the mandatory one-year service.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Amnesty International linked the NYSC’s decision to Raye’s outspoken criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies on social media. The organisation described the move as “an unacceptable intolerance of dissent” and a calculated attempt to suppress free speech.
“The National Youth Service Corps must reverse its arbitrary and outrageous action of denying Rita Ushei, widely known as Raye, her discharge certificate after she served the nation for a full year. This reflects an alarming lack of tolerance for opposing views,” the rights group said.
It further noted that the decision to withhold her certificate appeared to be connected to her online comments highlighting the severe economic hardship caused by the government’s policies since Tinubu took office. Amnesty stressed that peaceful criticism of leadership is a constitutional right and should never be met with intimidation or punitive measures.
“It is perfectly within her right to express dissatisfaction peacefully. Instead of punishing her for speaking about rampant inflation, the authorities should focus on addressing the worsening economic situation,” the group added. “The Nigerian government must stop using intimidation and abuse of power against individuals and groups who express dissent — a stance that blatantly disregards both the Nigerian constitution and international law. Having dissenting views is not a crime.”
Raye came under public attention in March after posting a viral TikTok video in which she criticised Tinubu’s administration for worsening living conditions. Following the video, she received threats to her safety. Amnesty noted that millions of Nigerians have been struggling to afford basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare due to economic measures implemented since May 2023.
Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore also condemned the NYSC’s decision, vowing to continue advocating for justice on Raye’s behalf. He accused the authorities of deliberately targeting her to silence her voice and deter others from speaking out.
Sowore praised Raye for her courage, crediting her advocacy for the NYSC’s decision to raise corps members’ allowances to ₦77,000. “We will not abandon her,” he said. “Her fight is our fight.”
The NYSC had earlier extended Raye’s service year by two months, reportedly in response to her online criticism — a move widely criticised by human rights advocates and ordinary Nigerians.
Background
In her viral TikTok post, Raye tearfully expressed frustration over skyrocketing prices in Nigeria, accusing the government of ignoring citizens’ hardship. She described Tinubu as “a terrible president” and urged more Nigerians to speak openly about the country’s economic challenges.
“If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe the government will act,” she said in the video. “I don’t know if there is any other president as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president.”
She lamented that her NYSC allowance could barely cover basic expenses, noting that she often spent more than she earned. Raye cited examples such as a crate of eggs rising to ₦6,500 from ₦800 in a short time, soaring electricity bills, and exorbitant transportation fares, with Uber trips costing up to ₦25,000.
Her complaints also extended to the living environment in Lagos, which she described as dirty and smelling foul. “Being an NYSC corper, there is nothing so beneficial about this scheme. The money I spend on transportation is more than what the federal government pays us,” she said. “Tinubu, you are a terrible person. What are you doing to help our economy?”
Less than a day after the post, Raye shared another video revealing that she had been contacted by NYSC officials pressuring her to delete the content. In one recorded exchange, a female official was heard asking her, “Are you normal?” before telling her to “keep quiet” and “pull down that rubbish.”
Raye said the official accused her of insulting the president, to which she responded that calling him “terrible” was not an insult but an opinion. She expressed concern that the NYSC had her address and was now using it to intimidate her.
“It is so bad that you can’t speak up about the government because they feel they can chain you,” she said. “I never insulted the president. I just said he is terrible. That is not an insult — it’s a statement.”
She added that instead of receiving assurances that the government was working to address inflation, she got calls from NYSC officials calling her “stupid” and demanding she take down the video.
The case has sparked nationwide debate over whether corps members should be restricted from expressing views on governance. Many Nigerians have argued that participation in the NYSC should not strip anyone of their constitutional right to free speech.
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