The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the service year of Rita Ushie, also known as Raye, following a viral social media comment in which she criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Newsonspot reports that in March 2025, Raye made headlines after expressing frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions. She openly described the Tinubu administration as “terrible,” highlighting the surging cost of living and accusing the government of ignoring the plight of everyday Nigerians.
Following the backlash, Raye was summoned by the NYSC Local Government Inspector to the Eti-Osa office in Lagos. However, when she arrived with her legal team and activist Omoyele Sowore, the official who issued the summons was reportedly absent. The matter soon faded from public discourse.
But on June 18, she was again summoned – this time to the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos – to face a disciplinary panel. After repeated delays and without a formal notice, she was eventually informed that her service year had been extended by two months as a sanction despite the fact that she had only one month remaining in her service period.
Jonathan Ugbal, South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, said Raye was deeply upset by the decision.
“Her mother called me, saying she was crying on the phone after being told of the extension. She’s not in the right frame of mind to speak right now,” he disclosed.
Ugbal also revealed that despite her limited financial resources, Raye traveled to the camp as instructed and even offered an apology to staff members who felt embarrassed by the public backlash.
The NYSC’s decision has sparked nationwide debate and condemnation. Civil rights advocates, including Omoyele Sowore and Festus Ogun, have spoken out in Raye’s defense, calling the punishment a violation of her right to free speech. They argued that no citizen should be penalized for voicing dissatisfaction with government policies, especially in a democratic society.
As the backlash continues to grow, many are questioning the boundaries between civic duty and freedom of expression under Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The NYSC has not released an official statement elaborating on the specific regulations Raye was found to have violated.
