Corps Member Raye Appeals to Tinubu Over Controversial NYSC Extension
Tinubu.webp" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Nairatop: Tinubu" loading="lazy" />What was meant to be a simple year of service has turned into a legal battle that’s catching national attention. A young corps member, Rita Uguamaye, better known as Raye, is now challenging what she calls a politically motivated punishment from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Her fight? To get her discharge certificate and end what she claims is an unlawful extension of her service year.
Through her lawyer, Raye has taken her case straight to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing NYSC officials of targeting her for daring to criticize government policies. She claims her two-month extension is a calculated act of victimization and not the result of any actual wrongdoing.
In her petition, which was also sent to the NYSC Director-General, the National Human Rights Commission, and other authorities, Raye argued that she fulfilled all her service obligations, including the April biometric clearance. She insists her Local Government Inspector deliberately refused to clear her out of retaliation for her outspoken comments on the Tinubu administration.
The petition outlines how threats of an extension from NYSC officials quickly became a reality, which Raye believes shows a blatant abuse of power and disregard for the NYSC Act. Despite submitting an earlier appeal to the NYSC Director-General in August 2025, she says no action has been taken to resolve the issue.
Her lawyer has emphasized that this situation undermines her constitutional rights to both free expression and fair hearing, warning that ignoring the matter could set a dangerous precedent for other corps members. The petition calls for immediate intervention from the President, and Raye has not ruled out legal action if no resolution is reached.
This standoff has quickly escalated into more than a personal dispute; it’s now a test of accountability within one of Nigeria’s key national institutions. Whether the Presidency intervenes or not, this case is shining a light on the balance of power between citizens and government agencies.
