The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the service year of Ms. Rita Ushie, a youth corps member popularly known as Raye on Instagram, by two months.
Ms. Ushie had earlier gone viral in April after posting a video online lamenting the economic hardship in Nigeria under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Her post attracted wide attention and also reportedly led to threats from NYSC officials who demanded that she take down the video.
Following the online backlash, Ms. Ushie was summoned by the NYSC to appear before a disciplinary panel—a move that was condemned by human rights groups and concerned Nigerians.
At the time, she was accompanied to the NYSC office by supporters, including prominent activist Omoyele Sowore. However, NYSC officials failed to show up for the hearing, causing the matter to lose momentum.
With just one month left in her service year, Ms. Ushie was again invited on Wednesday, June 18, to appear before a disciplinary panel at the Lagos State NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja, CrossRiverWatch revealed.
According to Jonathan Ugbal, the South-South Coordinator of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement who has been in close contact with her family, she was made to return home without any formal hearing.
“Upon her arrival last Wednesday without any formal documentation, the Local Government Instructor met her, had a brief conversation, and told her to return this week,” Ugbal said. “She had spent scarce resources to honor the invitation.”
This week, she was finally brought before the panel. Despite offering an apology to NYSC staff offended by the public backlash, she was informed that her service year would be extended by two months as a disciplinary measure.
“Her mother called me moments ago in distress,” Ugbal continued. “She said Rita was crying over the phone after receiving the news. I tried reaching out to her directly, but she’s currently not in a good emotional state.”
Further updates will follow as the situation develops.
