The National Youth Service Corps has refuted reports claiming that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye (State Code: LA/24B/8325), popularly known as “Raye”, was denied her Certificate of National Service because she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government.
NYSC recently described the accusations trending online as false and misleading.
Recall that Raye, who served in Lagos State, gained the attention of Nigerians months ago after a viral video showing her lamenting the rising living costs in the country trended online.
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Speaking via a press statement, the NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Embu simply shared that Raye was disciplined for her absence during April clearance.
According to her, Raye and 130 other corps members saw their Certificate of National Service withheld because they all failed to attend the April biometric clearance, which was a clear violation of the NYSC Bye-Laws.
She stated that Raye’s service year was extended as punishment for the obvious disregard for NYSC regulations.
“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.
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,” it read.
Caroline further noted that such extensions have always been a regular consequence for rule breakers, stressing that no political motive was at play.
She concluded by saying that identical sanctions have been placed on erring corps members in the past.
“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,” the statement added.
