A serving corps member in Lagos State has raised alarm after allegedly receiving threatening messages from her superiors.
This follows a video she posted on social media, criticizing the Tinubu-led government over the rising cost of living.
In the widely circulated video shared on her TikTok account @talktoraye, the corps member expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic situation and its impact on her as a corper.
She also voiced her dissatisfaction with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, stating that she spends more than the allowance she receives.
“If more Nigerians speak up about what we’re going through, maybe the government will make changes. I just want to say to our president, I don’t know if there has ever been a president as terrible as you, but you are truly a terrible president.
“I just came from a supermarket where I went to buy foodstuff, and the prices have gone up again. Every week, prices keep increasing. What is the government doing about this? Will there ever be a time when prices stop rising? How is it possible that a crate of eggs now costs N6,500? It doesn’t make sense. I remember when eggs were N800.
“I’m overwhelmed because this is my first time living away from my family. After I got home from the supermarket, I saw that my security and electricity bills had doubled. It’s insane. I can’t keep up. Every penny I earn goes into paying bills. Even taking an Uber with a friend costs N25,000. Why is everything so expensive?
“To make things worse, Lagos stinks. The city smells everywhere. What is the government doing about this? As an NYSC corper, this scheme has brought no real benefit. I spend more on transportation than what the federal government pays me as an allowance. We need to start calling out the government.”
Hours later, she shared another video claiming that she had been receiving threatening messages, allegedly from NYSC officials. She also posted a phone conversation in which a purported NYSC official scolded her for publicly criticizing the government.
In the audio, the NYSC official is heard saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and take down the video you posted.”
Sharing screenshots of alleged threatening messages on her Instagram page @iamraye__, she wrote:
“Deleting this video won’t help because they already know who I am. If I delete it, whatever happens to me will go unnoticed. If they decide to punish me severely, nobody will know because I would have covered it up myself by deleting the video.
“She’s asking people to identify me? I’m not a criminal. I’ve read the NYSC rules, and I didn’t commit any crime. Why is this NYSC official asking people to point me out? At this point, she’s acting scary.
“All I did was express my frustration. All I did was complain. I’m receiving tons of messages like this from fellow corps members. Why are they looking for me as if I’m a criminal?
“I was careful not to maliciously accuse the government of anything—I simply asked questions. As an NYSC corper, I didn’t sign away my freedom of speech.
“Leave me alone. They keep calling me, so I’ve switched off my phone. Now, they’re sending me my personal details on WhatsApp to prove they know me well.
“Dear NYSC, if a corper has violated a rule, is this how you handle it—by intimidating and scaring them? I fear for my life. Please leave me alone. You told me to report to the office on Monday. Okay, I will. But why are you still after me?
“I just exercised my right to freedom of speech, which every citizen has. Unless being an NYSC corper means I’m no longer a citizen.”
NYSC is yet to respond to these allegations.
