Since a TikTok clip criticising the cost-of-living crisis under the current Tinubu presidency went viral recently, much of Twitter has been abuzz with agitations.Â
Within hours of posting the video, Ushie Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member known on TikTok as Raye, allegedly received threats from NYSC officials. In an outpouring of support, Nigerians rallied to her defence, commending her outspokenness amid the threats. Even former vice president Atiku Abubakar couldn’t resist the urge to extol Raye’s “fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition.”Â
Amid the groundswell of support for the corps member’s candid criticism of the current administration, a trend has now emerged on X, labelled #30DaysofRantChallenge. Disillusioned young Nigerians have upped the ante, amplifying the problems highlighted in the video.
Across X, the anger is palpable, with posts condemning the country’s sticky inflation that has worsened in the past months. The latest inflation figure sits at 23.18%, up from 22% in May 2023, when President Tinubu assumed office. Over nearly two years, the costs of rice, eggs and electricity have surged by more than half.Â
🚨30 DAY RANT CHALLENGE‼️
She broke down in tears on a rant about the excruciating suffering Nigerians are going through due to the economy.
Now, #NYSC @officialnyscng officials are threatening her for speaking up against the government.In solidarity with Raye and the… https://t.co/3MTsY9JVd5 pic.twitter.com/cCLSWvYQ2B
— Odogwu Zeji📌 (@master_zeji) March 15, 2025
The alleged threats by NYSC officials have also fuelled renewed calls to scrap the year-long scheme, which subjects hundreds of thousands of Nigerian graduates each year to strenuous labour with mediocre pay.
Criticisms against the NYSC have grown louder in recent years. Alongside the hefty funds allocated to the program, many have questioned its relevance in present-day Nigeria. Established in 1973 in the aftermath of a horrific civil war that left more than one million civilians dead, the military government of Yakubu Gowon created the NYSC to strengthen national ties and promote unity among the country’s youth.
Part of the initiative included a community development service (CDS) designed to provide basic services and amenities to mostly rural areas. Defenders of the NYSC hail the impact of the CDS in providing essential skills where they are in short supply.
However, in practice, the NYSC has been plagued by numerous issues, from insecurity to incompetence. To avoid being posted to less prosperous states, prospective corps members with connections often pay bribes to influence their deployment.
A core objective of the scheme is to inspire patriotism and foster national integration. Yet, if recent polls are any indicator, national unity is at its lowest. Election campaigns increasingly tap into ethnic undercurrents, revealing deep-seated divisions. Even former corps members are seen championing divisive rhetoric on social media. Decades after the civil war, the Igbo continue to cry marginalisation, fuelling agitations for a secessionist Biafra Republic.
Amid escalating ethnic tensions, NYSC corps members have lost their lives to waves of terrorist attacks and political conflicts during service. Meanwhile, the federal government continues to earmark billions of naira for the scheme, yet the funding remains insufficient for over 300,000 graduates inducted into the program annually. Corps members still receive a N33,000 monthly stipend despite the government’s 2024 minimum wage review.
Worse still, employment opportunities for corps members post-service are scarce, exacerbating the country’s unemployment crisis.
Scrapping the NYSC outright may not be prudent, given its potential economic and social impacts. Similar youth service programs exist across Africa and Europe. In France, civic service spans six to twelve months. Unlike the NYSC, many of these youth programs, such as AmeriCorps and Teach for America in the U.S., are voluntary.
Nigeria’s economy has transformed dramatically since the NYSC decree was established. With persistent inflation and declining oil revenues, it is imperative to reassess national programs. Reforming the NYSC—rather than abolishing it—could be the more viable path forward.
During a lecture marking the NYSC’s 50th anniversary, former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega emphasisedthe need to make the scheme voluntary, reducing the number of participants and ensuring a more efficient allocation of resources.
As Nigeria faces economic and social challenges, the best approach is to cut wasteful spending. A reformed NYSC, with a focus on efficiency and relevance, may be long overdue.
A TikTok video by Ushie Uguamaye, criticizing the cost-of-living crisis under President Tinubu, sparked widespread discussion and support on social media, particularly Twitter. The video led to a new trend, #30DaysofRantChallenge, where young Nigerians express their discontent with the country's rising inflation, which has reached 23.18%. The criticism extends to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), established in 1973 to promote unity and patriotism, which is now seen as outdated, plagued with issues of corruption, insecurity, and inadequacy due to its mediocre pay and rising ethnic tensions.
Calls to scrap or reform the NYSC have intensified, with voices highlighting its waning relevance in modern Nigeria. Attahiru Jega, a former INEC chairman, suggested making the program voluntary to better allocate resources. With Nigeria's economic hardship and high unemployment rates, especially among corps members post-service, the argument is made for reforming rather than abolishing the NYSC. The focus is on reducing wasteful expenditure and ensuring the scheme is efficient and relevant in addressing current economic and social challenges.
