Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has dismissed claims that it extended the service year of a corps member as retaliation for her criticism of the federal government.
The controversy centres on Ushie Rita Uguamaye, known online as “Raye”, who drew attention earlier this year after a TikTok video in which she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration and described Lagos as a “smelling state.”
In a recent social media post, Ms Uguamaye alleged she was being victimised for her remarks, claiming that during April 2025’s clearance exercise her Local Government Inspector repeatedly sent her to the back of the queue before seizing her file, refusing to process her documents and marking her absent. She said she was later informed she would not receive her National Service discharge certificate for missing the clearance, an accusation she denies.
The matter gained political traction when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed concern, questioning why the certificate had not been issued a year after her service concluded. He urged the NYSC to act if Ms Uguamaye had served without official queries.
However, NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu stated that the claim was “entirely unfounded”. She said Ms Uguamaye’s service was extended by two months for missing April 2025’s biometric clearance, a sanction applied to 131 corps members in line with the organisation’s bye-laws.
“This is a standard disciplinary procedure and not unique to her case,” Ms Embu said, urging the public not to politicise the matter.
The dispute has also drawn the attention of activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who has pledged to support Ms Uguamaye, describing the situation as “gross injustice.”
