NYSC: Raye’s discharge certificate withheld for missing biometric clearance, not for criticising govt

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says the discharge certificate of Lagos corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye (popularly known as “Raye”) was not withheld as punishment for her public criticism of the federal government but for failure to comply with mandatory clearance procedures. In a clarification posted on the NYSC’s official X account on August 10, 2025, the service said Raye was among 131 corps members whose Certificates of National Service (CNS) were withheld for disciplinary reasons and that her service year was extended by two months for failing to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance.

The NYSC described claims that the action was politically motivated as “entirely unfounded,” saying the extension and withholding of certificates are standard measures applied under the NYSC bye-laws when corps members miss required clearances. The service urged the public not to politicise the matter.

Raye — state code LA/24B/8325 — rose to prominence earlier this year after a viral TikTok video in which she criticised the economy and governance under President Bola Tinubu. She has publicly said she went to claim her discharge certificate but was denied it; NYSC says the denial followed the missed biometric exercise and is consistent with how similar infractions are handled.

The case has drawn high-profile reactions. Opposition figures and civil-liberties voices called for the certificate to be released and warned against perceived victimisation; NYSC maintains the action was administrative, not punitive for expression. Observers say the dispute between a corps member’s claim of victimisation and the NYSC’s procedural explanation, highlights tensions around enforcement of service rules and public perception.