A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Rita Uguamaye, has formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that her service year was unlawfully extended due to political bias and retaliation.
Uguamaye, who is popularly known as Raye, submitted the petition through her legal counsel, Inibehe Effiong, accusing NYSC officials of victimisation and abuse of authority. She claims the extension was triggered by her public criticism of certain government policies, which she believes led to targeted harassment.
In the petition, which was also sent to the NYSC Director-General, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant bodies, Uguamaye demanded an immediate reversal of the two-month extension and the issuance of her discharge certificate.
Her lawyer stated that the NYSC’s justification that she missed her biometric clearance in April 2025, is false. According to the petition, Uguamaye appeared for clearance on April 7, but was allegedly denied screening by her Local Government Inspector, Veronica Abela, in what the legal team described as a deliberate act of retaliation.
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Effiong further alleged that the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator had previously threatened Uguamaye with an extension following her outspoken views, a threat that was later enforced. Despite submitting a formal complaint to the NYSC leadership on August 11, no action has been taken, prompting the escalation to the Presidency.
The petition argues that the decision violates Uguamaye’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing, and warns that failure to address the matter could set a troubling precedent for democratic accountability within public institutions.
Effiong emphasized that if the situation remains unresolved, legal action may follow.
