A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Lagos State has raised concerns after allegedly receiving threats from the NYSC board due to a social media post in which she criticized the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
In a video shared on TikTok via the handle @talktoraye, the corps member, visibly emotional, expressed her frustration over the escalating prices of essential goods. She also voiced strong disapproval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, blaming it for the worsening economic situation.
She stated:
“If more Nigerians speak out about what we are facing, maybe the government will take action. I just want to say to our president—I don’t know if there has ever been a worse leader, but you are truly terrible.”
She further explained that her NYSC allowance is inadequate to cover her expenses due to the continuous rise in prices.
“I just got back from the supermarket, and everything has become more expensive again. It feels like prices go up every single week. What is the government doing about this? Will things ever stabilize? How does a crate of eggs now cost N6,500? That doesn’t make sense. I remember when it was only N800. This is overwhelming, especially since it’s my first time living away from home.
“On top of that, my security and electricity bills have doubled. It’s exhausting. Every penny I earn goes toward covering expenses. Even going out with friends is no longer affordable—an Uber ride now costs N25,000. Why is everything so expensive?
“To make things worse, the entire city of Lagos has a terrible smell. What is being done about that? As an NYSC corps member, I don’t see any real benefits from this program. The amount I spend on transportation alone is far more than the federal government’s stipend. We need to start demanding accountability from our leaders. Tinubu, you are failing us. What are you doing to fix this economy?”
Less than 24 hours after posting the video, she uploaded another clip revealing that she had been receiving calls from NYSC officials urging her to remove the video. In one of the calls, a voice could be heard asking, “Are you normal?” before insisting that she take down the post.
She stated that multiple NYSC officials had contacted her, warning her against making further critical statements about the government.
Efforts to reach NYSC’s acting spokesperson, Caroline Embu, for a response were unsuccessful, as she did not answer calls at the time of reporting.
