The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted viral claims that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as “Raye,” was denied her Certificate of National Service due to her public criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NYSC described the allegation as false and baseless, emphasizing that the delay in issuing her certificate is solely procedural.
The Corps member’s service year was extended by two months because she failed to fulfill the mandatory April 2025 biometric clearance exercise, a requirement for the completion of national service.
According to the NYSC, Raye is among 131 corps members whose certificates have been withheld for similar reasons linked to non-compliance with clearance regulations.
The organization stressed that this is a standard disciplinary process uniformly applied to all corps members who miss their clearance obligations, with no political motivation involved.
Raye, who gained attention after a TikTok video in which she criticized Lagos and the Tinubu administration went viral, had previously sparked public sympathy from prominent figures like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and activist Omoyele Sowore, who alleged the delay was punitive and politically motivated.
The NYSC maintained that the withholding of certificates is a rule-based administrative action related to compliance and disciplinary standards.
The commission advised the public to avoid politicizing the matter and assured that all corps members are subject to the same regulations and procedures.
The statement reaffirms NYSC’s commitment to fairness and transparency in its operations as it continues to uphold national service regulations.
