NYSC Inspector Missing as Sowore, Lawyers Escort Corps Member to Lagos Office

Drama unfolded at the Eti-Osa office of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos on Monday when Mrs. Veronica Abella, Local Government Inspector (LGI), failed to appear as arranged for a meeting with corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye. Uguamaye had been invited following her complaints about Nigeria's economic hardship in a viral TikTok video.

At 10:00 a.m. on March 17, 2025, Uguamaye, invited by the NYSC office, was expected to report to the LGI. However, in the company of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and some senior lawyers like Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi, and Ojienoh Justice, Mrs. Abella could not be seen at the office.

Talking about the incident, Sowore affirmed, "We went to the Eti-Osa LGI office with Uguamaye, but even with our presence and waiting, the LGI officials never showed up during our time there. We will be back soon." Sowore had accompanied Uguamaye to secure her safety and rights as concerns over how she had been treated since her viral video continued to rise.

Uguamaye's TikTok video of March 15, 2025, in which she voiced her discontent with the Nigerian economic situation, went viral. She called President Bola Tinubu a "terrible leader" and asked questions about the government's failure to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerian citizens amid inflation and economic challenges. Her unflinching remarks quickly rendered her a social media trending issue, but at a cost.

Soon after that, Uguamaye stated she was intimidated by NYSC authorities to have the video down. She indicated her displeasure on Instagram, stating that requests for the post to be deleted were efforts to silence her, even when discussing sharing the truth regarding what was occurring in the nation.

The case has also sparked wider debates on freedom of speech. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly defended Uguamaye's right to make her utterances. The association maintained that all Nigerians, including youths in the youth corps, are constitutionally entitled to express their views and observations on actions by government without fear of reprisal.

In a statement, HURIWA national coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko reiterated that the Nigerian Constitution ensures freedom of expression under Section 39(1), which guarantees that people are free to hold opinions and engage in public debate. The rights group decried any attempt to intimidate or threaten Uguamaye, insisting that her criticisms were within her legal rights.

HURIWA also called on the leadership of the NYSC to undo any disciplinary action taken against Uguamaye and to work towards promoting a culture of freedom of speech within the corps. The group believed that it is crucial for Nigeria's democracy to open up to the voices of youths to take part in national conversations, particularly those who are likely to run the country in the future.