Amnesty International, public slam NYSC over alleged threats to corps member for criticising govt

• Ushie Uguamaye, an NYSC corps member, criticised President Tinubu’s administration in a viral TikTok video expressing frustration over rising inflation and high living costs
• After her video gained attention, Uguamaye claimed she received threatening calls from NYSC officials pressuring her to take the video down
• Amnesty International and Nigerians condemned the threats, demanding accountability and economic reforms

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has come under fire after a corps member, identified as Ushie Uguamaye, claimed she was threatened for speaking out against Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions. 

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has condemned the alleged threats, stating that the government should focus on addressing economic challenges rather than silencing citizens.

Many Nigerians have also criticised NYSC for allegedly threatening Uguamaye through phone calls and text messages, arguing that such actions violate her right to free speech. 

Many Nigerians took to social media to call for accountability, with some demanding an official response from NYSC and the government. Others have pointed out that instead of threatening her, authorities should focus on fixing the economic struggles she highlighted.

Corps member calls out government over economic hardship

Uguamaye, who is currently serving as a corps member in Lagos State, took to TikTok to express her frustration over the rising cost of living in Nigeria. In her viral video, she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling him a “terrible leader” and questioning what measures were in place to tackle inflation and economic hardship.

She lamented the constant increase in prices, saying, “Every single week, prices go up. I just want to know if the government is doing something about this. Is the increment going to stop?”

Uguamaye also complained about the high cost of utilities and the poor living conditions in Lagos, stating, “My security official just handed me the NEPA bill, and it has doubled again. I can’t keep up. Lagos stinks. You can’t even take a walk because the whole place smells.” 

She further criticised the NYSC scheme, saying the stipend paid to corps members is not enough to cover transportation costs, let alone other expenses.

Alleged threats from NYSC officials

Following her viral post, Uguamaye claimed she started receiving calls from NYSC officials pressuring her to delete the video. In a follow-up video, she played a conversation in which a woman, allegedly an NYSC official, ordered her to “pull down that rubbish.”

She insisted she was merely voicing her struggles and called on the public to hold NYSC responsible if anything happened to her. “It is so bad that you can’t speak against the government because they feel they have chains to hold you. Within 24 hours, I’m already receiving threats,” she said.

She also shared screenshots of messages from fellow corps members warning her that the Lagos State Government was allegedly searching for her. “I’m terrified. I just spoke my truth, and now I feel unsafe,” she added.

Amnesty International condemns NYSC for threatening corps member 

In reaction to the incident, Amnesty International strongly condemned the alleged threats against Uguamaye, emphasising that freedom of speech is a fundamental right. 

The organisation, in a post on X, stated, “It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritising addressing the country’s economic woes.”

The statement further highlighted that millions of Nigerians are facing extreme poverty, and the government has failed to implement effective solutions.

“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights,” the organisation posted.

Amnesty International further urged the authorities to stop using threats and intimidation against individuals who express dissenting opinions.

Atiku Abubakar commends corps member’s courage

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also weighed in on the controversy, praising the corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, for her boldness in speaking out. 

In a statement posted on his X account, Atiku described her as a symbol of the new generation of women advocating for popular participation and fearless political engagement.

"I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition," he said.

Atiku compared her to historic female activists like Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, and Margaret Ekpo while emphasising that Uguamaye should be encouraged rather than silenced.

Nigerians speak out on NYSC and Uguamaye’s ordeal

The situation has sparked widespread debate, with many Nigerians rallying behind Uguamaye. Social media users have expressed outrage, with some calling for better protections for individuals who speak out against government policies. Others have pointed out that her frustration reflects the struggles of many Nigerians trying to cope with inflation and poor living conditions.

While some netizens have called for the scheme to be scrapped entirely, others criticised Uguamaye for even speaking up about her struggles. 

Here are some of the reactions:

@GRVlagos posted: “Raye is all of us, and any attempt to oppress and silence her is a direct assault on citizens liberty. We run a constitutional democracy and not a monarchy where the people are subjects to a king. Hence, citizens have a moral and constitutional right to dissenting views and opinions. 

Our youths are in pain, suffering great deprivation because a corrupt and incompetent political class has stolen their future. But it doesn’t end with them inflicting pain and hardship, they still want to determine how you react to their oppression. They want you to smile at cruel oppression, to celebrate mediocrity and applaud stagnancy. We owe it a duty, to our conscience, country and unborn generation to resist this tyranny. We will not submit. We are not slaves. We are citizens. I stand with Raye.”

@mrmacaronii posted: “To the DG, Coordinators and every official of the NYSC!!! You cannot threaten, intimidate or victimize any corper for expressing their view on the performance of the president. They are citizens with rights! The president is in office to serve the people and every Nigerian, Corper or not has the right to hold their Leaders accountable!!!”

@AnonXNG posted: “A lady posted about hardship in Nigeria. Next day, she was threatened by NYSC Board to take it down. Is this a military regime? if u people think u r mad u haven’t seen madness yet! We’re giving NYSC Lagos headed by Christiana Salmwang 24hrs to publicly condemn those involved.”

@OurFavOnlineDoc posted: “The young nysc member who criticised the President for incompetence has just been threatened by nysc. If this lady goes missing, get attacked or be harassed, the govt must be held responsible. Nothing must happen to this lady.”

@Emeneks posted: “You know how to find Nysc Corper when they speak on Bad governance but cannot find them when they get kidnapped.”

@lollypeezle posted: “When there’s no light, you defend Nepa. When EFCC officers jump fence, you defend EFCC. When a journalist brought out the dark side of Customs, you defended IBD Dende and customs. Now that NYSC is bullying this girl, you are defending NYSC again. You don’t have a life at all.”

@MrMekzy_ posted: “There's no benefit to doing NYSC, not a single one. The entire scheme should be scrapped. It's a useless program that wastes one year of one's life.”

@ToryBlacq posted: “Corps members will get involved in accidents, get kidnapped, get killed, NYSC won’t do or say a single thing but it’s this one that’s airing her grievances about the country that is their problem.”

@SavvyRinu posted: “The targeting of that NYSC corper may be the beginning of protests that have been brewing for a while in Nigeria. We don’t have good lives. We can’t even complain that we don’t have good lives. Let them try it.”

@DanielRegha posted: “So NYSC can easily call someone to allegedly make threats over a video, but when corpers get k'dnapped they can't put in the same effort to ensure their quick rescue? Good to know. I blame the one calling her ma, my respect would've left thru the window after such tone.”

@khanofkhans11_ posted: “The lady complained about: Cost of food, Cost of data, Cost of transport, poor minimum wage, unhygienic environment, Terrible government tenure. NYSC official: Take down that video how dare you complain. House slave thinks she’s better than the field slave.”

@lollypeezle posted: “Terrorists were doing giveaways on TikTok, no noise from any angle. 

NYSC member criticized the government for running the country to ground zero, she has gotten threats and harassments while waiting to be hanged because she made a video. We are in deep soup o. A ti wo gau.”

Corps members to receive N77,000 monthly allowance starting February

TheRadar earlier reported that the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, announced a significant increase in the monthly allowance for corps members, confirming that starting in February 2025, they will receive N77,000 instead of the current N33,000.

Ahmed made the announcement on Thursday, January 30, during an address to the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members in Katsina State.