Workers and Youth Solidarity Network

18^th, March 2025

Press Statement

WYSN condemns all threats against Ushie Uguamaye a Corps member for criticising Tinubu’s government.

We demand immediate payment of 77,000 for corps members.

 

 

Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN) stand with Corps member   Ushie Uguamaye that is presently serving her compulsory National Youth Service corps member (NYSC) in Lagos state. lleged threats and intimidation being faced by Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, after her viral TikTok video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s regime over escalating economic hardship.  Uguamaye was well within her rights to express her frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions and unimaginable rate of inflation.

To us in WYSN we hold that Uguamaye as right to express dissent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should prioritise addressing the country’s economic woes,” so that there won’t be any reason to complain about.

Uguamaye’s video, which gained traction on social media, openly criticised Tinubu’s leadership, calling him a “terrible leader” and lamenting that financial struggles have made hard work feel futile She also complained about Lagos State’s poor sanitation, describing it as a “smelling state.” All of this are practical reality that average Nigerians are facing every day.

The video went viral, Uguamaye since then have been receiving threats, directly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the content and also to apologies.  She’s since then took to Instagram to express fears for her live, stating that her personal details had been leaked and that she was being pressured to report to the NYSC office.

“Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue.  “Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government, starting with the NYSC board. “They have my address. If you don’t see me online, you know who to hold accountable,” she wrote.

Nigerian ruling class has become more vicious since Tinubu came to power; they have doubled up to silence nonconforming voices rather than speaking citizens’ economic complaints.

“The Nigerian ruling class must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions. This means an attempt to continue to disregard for the Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime. We call on all Nigeria suffering people to join us in making sure that Uguamaye didn’t suffer for speaking up.

The argument has sparked a national debate on free speech and the role of the NYSC in suppressing public criticism. Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to demand accountability, with the hashtag #ProtectRaye gaining traction.

To us we condemned all sort of persecution from the NYSC authority, and the Tinubu led government against Uguamaye. We stand in solidarity with Uguamaye because she expressed the frustration over Nigeria worsening economic situation which every Nigerians cry every day.

We hold that the corps member only exercises her fundamental human right of expression, and she must not be persecuted for that the economy is hard on the ordinary masses cost of living is currently Killing the living,

Why will anybody blame the Corp member for speaking out and individual who are been paid #33000 allowance per month and was expected to eat, transport themselves to their PPA every day in fact there is no more provision for accommodation they have to find means by themselves.

The truth is the ruling elite have failed Nigerian and they must stop all attempts to silence opposition views.

We also call on Nigerians to stand in solidarity with her and use the opportunity to mobilise ourselves to the arena of struggle to put an end to hunger and working like elephant eating like an ant enough is enough they can’t keep persecuting the citizens each time they speak up.

The NYSC authorities and the Tinubu government must recognise that not Nigeria willingly and uncritically embraces a pedagogy of big lies about the neoliberal economic policies implemented by the government, and its concomitant existential hardship on the citizens. The Tinubu economic policies are purely anti poor, and this has escalated suffering among the people.

It is against logic when those in power and enjoys our collective resources assumes that it ought not to give you the freedom to think and speak the truth.

The WYSN call for end to oppression and suffering of the Nigerian people. Tinubu government must commence payment   77,000 for serving corps member. No doubt with the present economic challenge that the Corps members are facing, it is time for Nigerians to convoke a national meeting either to restructure the NYSC or to end it.

 

Moses Douglas

Northern Coordinator