A Nigerian youth corps member, Ushie Rita, has ignited a nationwide debate after accusing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of threatening her for voicing frustrations over the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Rita, who took to TikTok to express her outrage, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing him as a “terrible president.” She lamented the skyrocketing cost of living, stating that her NYSC allowance is barely enough to survive. The corps member also decried the deplorable living conditions in Lagos, branding the NYSC scheme as “not beneficial.”
“I genuinely feel overwhelmed,” she said. “Mr. President, I don’t know if there has ever been a president as terrible as you. Prices increase every week, and I just want to know—will it ever stop?”
Rita further shared how her security officials handed her a NEPA bill that had doubled, worsening her financial struggles. She also criticized the state of Lagos, stating that the city is “filthy” and barely livable.
Shortly after her video gained traction, Rita claimed she received a call from a woman identifying herself as an NYSC official, demanding she take down her post. According to her, the official accused her of insulting the government and warned of consequences if she refused to comply.
“Just minutes ago, I received a call from the NYSC board, and the woman was threatening me to take down the video,” Rita revealed in a follow-up post. “It’s frustrating that I can’t even speak against the government because they feel entitled to silence me.”
She also shared messages from colleagues suggesting that the Lagos State Government was actively searching for her. One of the messages reportedly read: “Lagos State Government is looking for you. I know because my LGI just posted about it in our group chat. Be careful, dear. All the best.”
Amnesty International has weighed in on the controversy, condemning the alleged intimidation Rita faced for speaking out. In a statement posted on X, the human rights organization defended her right to express frustration over the country’s economic conditions, slamming authorities for attempting to silence her instead of addressing the core issue—Nigeria’s deepening economic hardship.
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“It is perfectly within her rights to express discontent peacefully. Rather than threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, authorities should focus on addressing the country’s economic problems,” the statement read.
Amnesty International further called on Nigerian authorities to stop harassing citizens who express dissenting views.
Rita’s viral video has sparked mixed reactions across social media, with many Nigerians divided over whether she was right to publicly criticize the government.
@Taililabour expressed concern for her safety, stating, “I can’t imagine the trauma this girl is facing because of the threats. Her parents must be worried sick. This matter should not end now. That NYSC official who threatened her should resign or be sacked.”
On the other hand, @akinwunliyi argued that Rita violated NYSC guidelines, stating, “Which organization allows its workers to criticize it publicly? NYSC has its code of conduct & guidelines for corps members. She crossed the line. No member of military or paramilitary agencies, like NYSC, has the right to publicly criticize the government and get away with it.”
As the debate rages on, questions remain: Will the NYSC address these allegations? And more importantly, will Nigerian authorities shift focus to tackling the economic crisis that has left many citizens struggling to survive?
