The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the service year of Ms. Rita Ushie, popularly known as Raye on Instagram, by two months, following her viral criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the economic hardship in Nigeria
Raye, who had just one month left in her national service, sparked national attention in March after posting an emotional video in which she lamented the rising cost of living and slammed the Tinubu-led government. She also alleged that NYSC officials were pressuring her to take down the video.
The incident drew backlash from civil society groups and Nigerians online, many of whom accused the NYSC of attempting to silence free speech.
Raye was first summoned by the NYSC Local Government Inspector to the Eti-Osa Local Government office, but upon arriving with human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and her legal team, the official who issued the summon was nowhere to be found.
The matter resurfaced on June 18, when Raye was ordered to appear before a disciplinary panel at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. After multiple delays, she was eventually informed that her service year had been extended as a punitive measure.
Raye first made headlines on March 16, 2025, after she posted a video on TikTok under the handle @talktoraye, where she condemned the Tinubu administration as “terrible” and spoke about the crushing impact of inflation on young Nigerians.
“If more Nigerians begin to speak up about our suffering, maybe something will change,” she said tearfully in the video. “I don’t know if there’s ever been a president as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president.”
She also spoke of the challenges she faced as a corps member, saying the NYSC allowance could not cover her basic needs. “I’m spending more than I’m earning. Transportation alone swallows up my entire allowance,” she said.
In another part of the video, she expressed frustration over skyrocketing prices. “A crate of eggs now costs N6,500. Just a while ago, it was N800. I’ve never lived alone before, and now that I do, everything is overwhelming—NEPA bills, security bills, food, even Uber rides now cost as much as N25,000.”
She added, “Lagos smells terrible. What’s the government doing about that? This NYSC scheme doesn’t benefit us. It feels pointless.”
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