By Ghazali Ibrahim 
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for threatening a corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, over her viral video criticizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
The incident has sparked a national debate on free speech and the rights of citizens to express their opinions.
According to reports, Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member, posted a video on her TikTok account, @talktoraye, expressing her frustration with Nigeria’s deteriorating economic situation.
In the video, she described Tinubu as a “terrible leader” and criticized the government’s efforts to address citizens’ suffering.
Shortly after the video gained traction, Uguamaye alleged that she began receiving threats from NYSC officials, who pressured her to take down the content.
The corps member claimed that the NYSC obtained her address, leaving her fearing for her safety.
In a post on the social media platform X, Amnesty International condemned the NYSC’s actions, stating that it is within Uguamaye’s right as a citizen to express her discontent peacefully.
The organization urged the government to focus on addressing the economic woes rather than threatening Uguamaye.
“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes,” Amnesty International said.
The organization also highlighted the plight of millions of Nigerians facing extreme poverty, stating that the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures. “Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty.
So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights,” Amnesty International said.
Uguamaye’s video has sparked a national conversation about the economic hardship faced by Nigerians and the role of the government in addressing these challenges.
Many Nigerians have rallied behind Uguamaye, criticizing the government’s response and calling for greater freedom of expression.
The incident has also raised concerns about the NYSC’s role in silencing citizens and the implications for democracy in Nigeria.
As the debate continues, Amnesty International’s condemnation of the NYSC’s actions serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting citizens’ rights to freedom of expression.
