The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted claims that a corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as “Raye,” was denied her Certificate of National Service (CNS) for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The scheme insisted her case was purely disciplinary.
In a statement released on Sunday, NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu said the allegation making the rounds on social media was “false and without basis.” She clarified that Raye’s service year was extended by two months because she failed to attend the mandatory April biometric clearance, as stipulated in the NYSC Bye-Laws.
“Contrary to these claims, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose CNS was withheld not as punishment for dissent, but for valid disciplinary reasons,” the statement read. Embu stressed that the extension process was standard and had been applied uniformly to other corps members in similar circumstances.
The NYSC maintained there was no political motive in the decision, emphasising its commitment to equal treatment. “It is important to note that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case,” the statement concluded.
Raye, who served in Lagos State, had earlier drawn public attention with a viral video in which she lamented rising living costs and economic hardship in Nigeria. On Saturday, she alleged on Instagram that her certificate was withheld when she went to collect it with fellow corps members.
According to her, NYSC officials claimed she missed the April clearance, an assertion she disputed. She said she had presented herself for the exercise but was repeatedly told by her Local Government Inspector (LGI) to wait.
Raye further alleged that her LGI eventually refused to clear her, seized her service file, and ordered her to leave the office — a sequence of events she believes was unfair and targeted.
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