The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has rejected allegations that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, commonly known as "Raye", was refused her Certificate of National Service due to her criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement released on Sunday, NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu labeled the circulating claims as unfounded, clarifying that Raye faced disciplinary action for her absence during the April clearance.
"Contrary to these allegations, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose CNS was withheld not as a penalty for dissent, but for legitimate disciplinary measures.
Specifically, her service year was extended by two months because she did not attend the April biometric clearance, as mandated by NYSC Bye-Laws," the statement indicated.
The scheme emphasized that such extensions are a standard practice applied uniformly and are devoid of any political implications, noting that similar sanctions have historically been enforced on corps members who do not meet clearance requirements.
"It is crucial to highlight that this extension is a standard procedure and is not an isolated incident; the principle of equal treatment was upheld in this case," the statement concluded.
Raye, who served in Lagos State, attracted public attention several months ago after a viral video in which she expressed her concerns about surging living costs and economic hardships in the nation.
On Saturday, she took to Instagram to claim she was denied her certificate while attempting to collect it with her peers.
She reported that NYSC officials told her she did not complete her April clearance, a statement she strongly contested.
According to her, she was present for clearance but was repeatedly instructed by her Local Government Inspector (LGI) to wait.
She further claimed that the LGI later denied her clearance, took her file, and instructed her to leave the office.