NYSC Denies Extending Lagos Corper Raye’s Service Year Over Criticism of President Tinubu

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied extending the service year of a Lagos-based corps member, Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, following her viral criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Raye gained widespread attention after sharing a video on TikTok in which she lamented Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, calling out high inflation, poor living standards, and what she described as the “terrible leadership” of President Tinubu. In the same video, she criticised Lagos State, referring to it as a “smelling state” due to what she called its deteriorating living conditions.

After her video went viral, Raye alleged that she was being pressured by NYSC officials to take it down. In a follow-up video, she claimed she was being threatened for speaking out but insisted she only shared her honest views about the current state of the country.

The controversy quickly caught national attention, drawing support from several public figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and activist Omoyele Sowore. Sowore strongly condemned the alleged threats and, reacting to a viral headline that claimed NYSC had extended Raye’s service year as punishment, vowed to protest during the NYSC passing-out parade if she wasn’t allowed to complete her service without interference.

“This cannot stand,” Sowore stated. “We will mobilise at the passing out parade unless Raye is allowed to finish her service in peace.”

However, the NYSC has refuted the claim, stating that no decision on service extension has been made. Speaking with The Herald Hub, NYSC’s acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, clarified that the organisation only considers service year extensions at the point of passing out — and only in line with official guidelines.

“NYSC is a structured organisation guided by rules,” Embu said. “She’s still in service, and until she’s passing out, no decision like that can be made. If any issue arises, it will be addressed according to our regulations.”

When asked about Sowore’s comments, Embu dismissed the speculation. “Who is Sowore? Is he with the NYSC? Why would people believe such unverified claims?”

As of the time of this report, there is no official confirmation that Uguamaye’s service has been extended. She has also not posted any update on her social media channels regarding the matter.