The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has yet to respond to accusations by a corps member named Ushie Uguamaye who claims she is facing intimidations from NYSC officials for criticising President Bola Tinubu and his administration. Uguamaye, who serves in Lagos posted a video on her TikTok account where she lamented Nigeria’s economic hardship and called Tinubu a “terrible leader.” She further depicted Lagos as having “poor living conditions” and being a “smelling state.”
Following the viral video, Uguamaye alleged that NYSC officials demanded she take down the content —threatening her safety. In a follow-up video, she insisted she had done nothing wrong —noting her criticism was a valid exercise of free speech. Efforts to reach NYSC spokesperson Edwin Megwa were unsuccessful.
The incident has attracted mixed reactions. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar praised Uguamaye for her courage —likening her to iconic activists such as Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti. Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) condemned the alleged threats, and urged Tinubu to ensure her safety and uphold freedom of expression.
While some Nigerians have lauded her courage, others criticised her approach —sparking intense debate online.
