AI, others allege political motivation, immediate release

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), yesterday, debunked claims that a corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye (State Code LA/24B/8325), was denied her certificate of National Service (CNS) over criticism of the government.

The NYSC urged the public not to politicise the matter, noting that extending service for non-compliance has been a longstanding practice. In a statement by the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, Rita was among 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld for valid disciplinary reasons.

Embu explained that Rita’s service year was extended by two months for failing to attend the April 2025 biometrics clearance in accordance with the NYSC by-laws. She said: “Contrary to false claims that she was denied a Certificate of National Service (CNS) due to critical remarks about the government, this assertion is entirely unfounded and false in its entirety.”

BUT former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday described the situation as “unacceptable,” insisting it was potentially politically motivated, adding that it was wrong to punish a citizen for exercising her right to free expression.

He urged the authorities to act swiftly to resolve the matter, warning that such incidents undermine public trust in national institutions. Atiku wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “What manner of impunity is this? Everything should not be subjected to politics.

“I hope that Ushie Rita Uguamaye’s NYSC discharge certificate is not being withheld because she had the courage to complain about the economic hardship under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

“It is unacceptable that the young lady, who had served her country without queries, should not have received her National Youth Service Corps certificate one year after passing out.”

Also, Amnesty International has called on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to immediately reverse its decision to withhold the discharge certificate of corps member Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as “Raye,” despite completing her one-year national service.

The organisation said in a statement yesterday that the move appeared linked to Raye’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which she expressed on social media.

It described the NYSC’s action as “unacceptable intolerance of dissenting voices” and an attempt to punish free expression.”
IN the same vein, Human Rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also yesterday, knocked the Management of the National Youth Service Corps over the decision to withhold the certificate of a Lagos youth corps member in alleged retaliation for her criticism of the economic policies of the Bola Tinubu administration.

Falana, in a statement, noted that the decision was a cheap demonstration of overzealousness. He said: “Indeed, it is a sad reminder of the confiscation of the NYSC discharge certificate of Bamidele Aturu (of blessed memory) in 1988 by the NYSC management for rejecting the best Corper Award on the ground that he did not want to shake hands with the military Governor of Niger State, Lt. Col. Lawan Gwadabe. That was under the Ibrahim Babangida military junta when human rights were put in abeyance.

“Since Nigeria is under a democratic government, Rita Uguamayei’s fundamental right to criticise the government is guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. It is pertinent to remind the NYSC authorities of the Democracy Day Speech of President Bola Tinubu, wherein public officers were cautioned against suppressing dissent and that silencing critical voices could lead to unrest and undermine democracy,” he said.

SIMILARLY, a former National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kunle Edun (SAN), has criticised the NYSC for denying Uguamaye her Discharge Certificate.

He said: “I make bold to say that if this is the case, then NYSC is 100 per cent in the wrong. NYSC is not a political organisation nor an appendage to any political party. NYSC was founded on the principle of nationalism and patriotism, which are to be inculcated into the consciousness of the youths. Therefore, these principles require every youth to say something when something is wrong.

“Expression of criticisms of government policies is a call for accountability. NYSC, therefore, failed to uphold its own principles of moulding true patriots.” Edun noted that youths like Uguamaye should be admired for their forthrightness.