A controversy has arisen between a Lagos corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye (also known as Raye), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over her discharge certificate. The dispute began after Uguamaye posted a viral TikTok video in March where she criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration and the economic hardship in the country. Following the video, she alleged that she received threats from NYSC officials pressuring her to delete the content.
On Saturday, Uguamaye claimed in an Instagram video that the NYSC withheld her discharge certificate in retaliation for her criticism. She said she was denied her April clearance despite being present on the scheduled date, alleging that her Local Government Inspector (LGI) refused to attend to her, seized her file, and ordered her to leave.
The NYSC, in a statement released on Sunday, refuted Uguamaye's claims, describing them as "entirely unfounded and false." The scheme stated that her certificate was withheld because she failed to attend the mandatory April 2025 biometrics clearance. According to the NYSC, Uguamaye is one of 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld for valid disciplinary reasons, and her service year has been extended by two months in accordance with NYSC bye-laws. The NYSC maintains that the extension is a standard procedure and not politically motivated.
Uguamaye's claims have garnered significant public attention and support from various figures. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Femi Falana have accused the NYSC of punishing her for her criticism of the government. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have also called for the NYSC to release her certificate, with Falana arguing that the action is a violation of her constitutional right to free expression. Uguamaye's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has also countered the NYSC's explanation, insisting that his client was present for her April clearance and was deliberately sabotaged by an NYSC official. In a recent live session on TikTok, Uguamaye stated that she is no longer interested in the certificate, declaring that her life is great with or without it.
Here's a video on the story of a corps member and her NYSC certificate issue. This video is relevant as it provides a biography of Ushie Rita Uguamaye and details the controversy surrounding her NYSC certificate.
