A Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Uguamaye, has raised concerns over alleged threats following her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s government over inflation and economic hardship.
According to the video shared on TikTok via the handle @talktoraye, the serving Corp member, Uguamaye, in tears, explained how frustrated she is over the high cost of goods in the market.
She openly criticised Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” for paying little attention to the hike in commodity prices and questioned the government’s efforts to alleviate citizens’ suffering.
Additionally, she described Lagos State as a “smelling state,” complaining about its odour and poor living conditions.
In the video, she said: “If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government. I just want to say to our president, I don’t know if there is any other president that is as terrible as you, but you are such a terrible president.”
The serving corp member, in tears, further explained how the NYSC scheme has been less beneficial to her, having had to spend more than the allowance she receives
“So, I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. It’s just like every single week, prices keep increasing. I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up? Why am I going to get a crate of eggs and I’m told it costs N6,500? It doesn’t make any sense that eggs would cost that much. I literally remember when eggs cost N800. I am so overwhelmed because this is the first time I’ve stayed out of my family house.
“After I left the supermarket, I got home, and the security and NEPA bills have skyrocketed, doubling in price. It is insane. I can’t keep up with these bills. Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills. The crazy thing is, you want to go out with your friend, and Uber is N25,000. Why are things so expensive?
“To make it worse, Lagos stinks. Everywhere smells. What is the government doing about the smell? Being an NYSC Corper, there is nothing so beneficial about this scheme. The money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us. We should start calling out the government. For example, Tinubu, you are a terrible person. What are you doing to help our economy?”
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Shortly after her video gained traction, Uguamaye alleged that she began receiving threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the content.
@talktoraye Less than 24Hrs, I’m already getting threatened by the Government starting with the NYSC board
Dear Nigerians they have my address Incase you guys don’t see me online please you know who to hold accountable. I didn’t do anything wrong I just asked that they work on the inflation.
She posted another video in which she was receiving calls from an NYSC official. The official in the video was heard asking the Corp member, “Are you normal?” The voice continued, “Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted,” she said.
The Corps member further explained that she has been receiving calls from various NYSC officials telling her to stop insulting the government and remove the video.
Frustrated by the backlash, Uguamaye express her disappointment at what she described as attempts to silence her, insisting that she only spoke the truth about Nigeria’s realities.
She wrote, “Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue. Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government starting with the NYSC board!.
“Dear Nigerians, they have my address. In case you guys don’t see me online, please you know who to hold accountable. I didn’t do anything wrong I just asked that they work on the inflation.
“Why can’t I speak up? Being an NYSC corper doesn’t mean I signed up my right to complain.
“Why can’t the government listen to the critics of its citizens? They believe they have a chain on me, which is NYSC, and they are using it to hold me. #officialasiwajubat I didn’t do anything wrong. I criticised your government and I demand that we are being heard.”
She added, “Deleting this content is of no use: because they already know me. However, deleting it means whatever they do to me, nobody would know. If they decide to give me a hefty punishment, nobody would know because I used my own hands to cover it by deleting what I started.
“She’s asking people to Identify me? I’m not a criminal. Reading the NYSC rules, I didn’t commit any crime. Ask the NYSC lady to stop asking people to point me out, ATP she’s acting scary.
“All I did was lament, all I did was complain. I’m getting tons of messages like this from my fellow corpers. What is wrong with just one person complaining? Why are they looking for me like I’m a criminal? I’m not dumb.
“I made sure to not accuse the government of anything maliciously! I questioned them. I asked questions. As an NYSC Corper, I didn’t sign off my freedom of speech.
“Leave me alone bruh. they keep calling me and I’ve switched of my phones now they are texting me my personal details on WhatsApp to inform me they know me well.
“Dear NYSC if you say a corper has faulted, you wouldn’t treat them like this and scare them! You are scaring me for my dear life. Please, leave me alone. You told me to report to the office on Monday. Okay! What else? Why are you looking for me? I just exercised my right to using the ‘Freedom of Speech’
this is the right of every citizen. Except they tell me being an NYSC Corper removes me from being a citizen.”
Her allegations have sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether the NYSC is suppressing free speech among corps members. Many prominent figures have expressed support for Uguamaye’s right to voice her opinion, attributing her outburst to frustration with the country’s current economic situation.
