The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has dismissed widespread rumors suggesting it extended the service year of Lagos-based corps member, Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, following her viral criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the current economic hardship in Nigeria.
Raye, who became a trending topic across social media after posting a fiery TikTok video via her handle @talktoraye, had described Nigeria’s living conditions under Tinubu’s government as unbearable, calling Lagos State a “smelling state” and labelling the President a “terrible leader.” Her blunt remarks about inflation, insecurity, and poor living standards quickly caught nationwide attention.
Amid the backlash from her video, Raye later released another clip alleging that NYSC officials threatened her, urging her to take down the post. While NYSC remained silent at the time, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar weighed in, condemning what they described as attempts to intimidate the young corps member.
The controversy deepened when online reports on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, suggested that NYSC had “punitively” extended Raye’s service year by two months as punishment for her anti-government remarks. Sowore, reacting via social media, promised to mobilize mass protests at the NYSC Passing Out Parade if the alleged extension was not reversed.
However, speaking with journalists on Tuesday afternoon, NYSC Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, firmly denied the extension claims. Embu clarified that NYSC decisions on service year extensions only occur at the point of a corps member’s official passing out and are strictly based on documented infractions like absenteeism or misconduct.
“NYSC is a responsible and rule-based institution. No corps member still serving can be subjected to a service extension at this stage. There are due processes for that,” Embu said, questioning Sowore’s involvement: “Who is Sowore? Does he work with NYSC? How come he’s speaking on internal NYSC matters?”
Despite the viral noise, no official NYSC document confirming any extension exists, and Raye herself has not posted any update regarding a service extension on her social media platforms.
The saga has ignited wider debates on free speech, government criticism, and the rights of Nigerian youth to express dissent without fear of institutional punishment.
