Miss Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly called “Raye”
A youth corps member, Miss Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly called “Raye” — who criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government, has alleged that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) withheld her discharge certificate in retaliation for her comments.
Uguamaye, who served in Lagos State, hit the headlines earlier in the year following her viral TikTok video in which she criticised President Tinubu’s administration and described Lagos as “smelling”
In a fresh video, she alleged that her Local Government Inspector (LGI) refused to clear her for April despite her being present on the scheduled date.
She shared the viral video clip on Instagram on Saturday, claiming she was repeatedly told to “go to the back” until the official eventually seized her file, refused to attend to her, and ordered her to leave.
According to her,she was later informed she would not receive her certificate because she missed April clearance, which she insists is untrue.
“I genuinely wish I wasn’t a Lagos State corps member because it’s a waste of my time,” she wrote on social media, adding that she had decided to close the chapter and move on.
Meanwhile, Human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has intervened, accusing the NYSC of punishing the lady for her criticism of the Tinubu administration.
In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, he said, “It is with deep sadness and renewed outrage that I address the ongoing injustice against Raye.
“We will not stop until we achieve victory not just for her, but for every Nigerian denied their rights by an oppressive system.”
Sowore noted that Rita Uguamaye’s activism pressured the authorities to increase corps members’ monthly allowance to N77,000, describing her certificate denial as “an injustice of the highest order.”
Earlier in March, Sowore had accused the Eti-Osa LGI of abandoning her office after summoning Uguamaye.
He said he accompanied her with lawyers, but the official failed to appear throughout their visit.
The summons followed Uguamaye’s viral video in which she lamented economic hardship, high inflation, and poor living conditions under Mr Tinubu’s government.
She claimed she began receiving threats from NYSC officials pressuring her to delete the content and feared for her safety, noting that the officials had her personal details.
The case has drawn national attention, which made the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar praise Uguamaye’s courage, likening her to Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Margaret Ekpo.
Also, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi warned against silencing critics, while the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged the president to order the NYSC to stop harassing her.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) president Festus Osifo said her comments reflected public frustration and should not be met with retaliation.
However, former presidential aide Reno Omokri criticised her actions, arguing corps members should focus on their service duties and remain apolitical.
The NYSC is yet to comment on the controversy.
