The National Youth Service Corps has explained why Lagos-based corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly called Raye, has not received her Certificate of National Service.
NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu said in a statement on Sunday that the certificate was withheld because Raye missed her April biometric clearance, not because she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“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,” Embu said.
She added that Raye’s service year was extended by two months in line with NYSC bye-laws, stressing that the process was standard and applied to all corps members in similar situations.
“It is important to note that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case, and the principle of equal treatment was only applied in this case,” she said.
Raye, who served in Lagos, had posted a video on Instagram on Saturday alleging she was unfairly denied her certificate when she went to collect it with her colleagues. She claimed she had presented herself for the April clearance but was told repeatedly by her Local Government Inspector to wait, before the official later seized her file and refused to clear her.
“The deep rooted anger I feel and hatred is crazy because I don’t know who to direct it to,” she said.
