Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Edun has condemned the reported denial of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to Miss Rita Uguamaye, allegedly over her criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
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In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Edun described the action as “politics taken too far,” warning that such conduct undermines Nigeria’s democratic principles.
He said the NYSC, as a non-political institution founded to promote nationalism and patriotism among young Nigerians, had no legal or moral basis to punish corps members for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression.
“If this is the case, then NYSC is 100% in the wrong,” Edun stated. “Expression of criticisms of government policies is a call for accountability. NYSC has failed to uphold its own principles of moulding true patriots.”
The SAN contrasted the alleged treatment of Ms. Uguamaye with past cases where public officials were appointed to high office without completing the mandatory service year, citing the example of a former minister appointed more than a decade after graduating without NYSC service.
“What kind of message is NYSC passing to the Nigerian youths? That short-cut and silence in the face of impunity is now a directive policy of government?” he queried.
Mr. Edun maintained that Ms. Uguamaye committed no offence and called on the NYSC to immediately issue her discharge certificate. He also urged the Minister of Youth Affairs to intervene.
“She is a true patriot and should be commended. We must stop playing politics with the lives of our youths. Government must not give the impression that the future of our youths do not matter. They do matter,” he added.
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