Barrister Inibehe Effiong and activist Omoyele Sowore, in the early hours of Tuesday, 12 August, staged a protest at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Headquarters in Abuja, demanding the release of the NYSC certificate of Ms. Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Barrister Effiong stated that the certificate in question is “not a certificate of presidential service, not a certificate of governmental service, but a certificate of national service crafted by the National Youth Service Corps Act.” He revealed that a petition has been submitted, seeking the immediate reversal of Raye’s two-month service extension and the release of her certificate.
Raye, who served in Lagos State, came into the public spotlight months ago after a viral video in which she decried the rising cost of living and economic hardship in Nigeria. On Saturday, she alleged via Instagram that she was denied her NYSC certificate when she arrived to collect it alongside her colleagues.
According to her, NYSC officials claimed she failed to complete her April clearance, a charge she vehemently denied. She said she had repeatedly presented herself for clearance but was told by her Local Government Inspector (LGI) to wait. She further alleged that the LGI later refused to clear her, confiscated her file, and ordered her out of the office.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu dismissed Raye’s claims as “false and without basis,” insisting that she was sanctioned for failing to attend the April biometric clearance.
“Contrary to these claims, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose Certificates of National Service were withheld, not as punishment for dissent, but for valid disciplinary reasons. Specifically, her service year was extended by two months because she failed to attend the April biometric clearance, as required by the NYSC Bye-Laws,” the statement read.