NYSC Denies TikTok Star Raye Certificate Amid Tinubu Criticism

Ushie Rita Uguamaye, known simply as Raye, a popular TikTok influencer and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, has, in a recent video on her social media page, accused the NYSC of withholding her discharge certificate in retaliation for her viral video criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Recall that in the March 2025 video, Raye called Tinubu a “terrible leader” and highlighted Nigeria’s economic bedevilment, sparking nationwide debate and reportedly prompting the government to raise the NYSC allowance from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000.

Raye alleges that NYSC officials in Eti-Osa, Lagos, denied her certificate, citing an incomplete April clearance, which she disputes, claiming she was unfairly victimized. She faced prior disciplinary action, including a two-month service extension, after being summoned to a panel over her video. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and others have condemned the NYSC’s actions as an attack on free speech, while the agency has remained silent on the issue.

The controversy has reignited discussions on institutional retaliation and the vulnerability of corps members, with social media amplifying calls for justice. Raye, while moving on, remains a symbol of youth dissent in Nigeria’s digital age.