The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the centre of a storm over her withheld discharge certificate, Ushie Rita Uguamaye — popularly known as Rita Raye — has given her own account of the incident that led to the controversy.
Speaking on Sunday during an X Space hosted by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, Rita claimed her troubles began in April 2025 when her Local Government Inspector (LGI), identified as Veronica, refused to let her complete her monthly biometric clearance.
“I was at the LGI centre in April to carry out my biometric exercise. I submitted the same documents I had always submitted, including a clearance letter from my place of primary assignment,” she said. “But the officer refused, told me to leave her office, and that was it.”
Weeks later, Rita said she was summoned over allegations she failed to attend the April clearance. She insists she was never given a fair hearing.
“When the jury called me, they didn’t even want to hear what I had to say,” she recalled. “Proper checks were not done before the NYSC accused me publicly.”
NYSC’s official stance
The NYSC maintains that Rita’s punishment has nothing to do with her earlier public criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In a statement on Sunday, the scheme said her service year was extended by two months because she missed the April biometric clearance — a sanction it described as “standard procedure” under the NYSC bye-laws.
According to the NYSC, Rita is one of 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld this year for disciplinary reasons, adding that the decision was “not unique to her case”.
Political and public backlash
Despite the NYSC’s clarification, Rita’s supporters — including high-profile figures — believe her punishment is politically motivated.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the move, questioning whether it was linked to her March video criticising economic hardship under the Tinubu administration.
“It is unacceptable that a young lady who served her country without queries should be denied her certificate,” Atiku said.
Amnesty International also joined in the criticism, while Sowore accused the authorities of targeting Rita to “silence her criticism and suppress dissent.”
Sowore, who credited Rita’s outspokenness with prompting the recent corps members’ allowance increase to ₦77,000, vowed: “We will not abandon her. Her fight is our fight.”
