Amnesty International has criticised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly intimidating a corps member who voiced her frustrations over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and rising inflation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The controversy began when the corps member, in a widely circulated TikTok video, called Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioned the government’s efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
After the video gained traction, she claimed she started receiving threatening messages, reportedly from NYSC officials. In a follow-up video, she shared a phone call in which an alleged NYSC official scolded her, saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”
Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International condemned the threats, stating that the government should focus on addressing economic issues rather than silencing dissent.
“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,” the organisation wrote on X.
The human rights group highlighted that millions of Nigerians are suffering from extreme poverty and that the government has failed to implement effective measures to alleviate their struggles.
Amnesty International further warned against using intimidation to suppress free speech, stressing that expressing dissent is not a crime under the Nigerian constitution or international law.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” it added.
