A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has recounted her ordeal over the withholding of her discharge certificate, alleging that she was unfairly denied the chance to complete her April biometric clearance.
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Speaking during an X Space conversation hosted by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on Sunday, Rita claimed her Local Government Inspector (LGI), identified as Veronica, refused to allow her complete the exercise despite her submitting the required documents.
“I was at the LGI centre in April to carry out my biometric exercise and the official on duty refused to allow me do that, even though I submitted the same documents I had been presenting in previous months, including a clearance letter from my primary place of assignment,” she said. “She told me to get out of her office, and that was what happened.”
According to Rita, she was later summoned by NYSC officials over an alleged failure to complete the April clearance but was not given a fair hearing.
“When the jury called me, they did not even listen to me, they did not want to hear what I had to say,” she said, adding that proper checks were not carried out before NYSC publicly accused her of missing the exercise.
In its own statement on Sunday, the NYSC denied that her certificate was withheld because of any criticism she made about the government, insisting the decision was purely disciplinary. The corps explained that Rita was among 131 members whose Certificates of National Service (CNS) were withheld for failing to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance, in line with the NYSC Bye-Laws.
“Rita’s service year has been extended by two months for failing to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance. This extension is standard procedure and not unique to her case,” the statement read.
The corps urged the public not to politicise the issue, stressing that such extensions are a longstanding practice.
The case has drawn condemnation from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the development as “unacceptable” and urged the NYSC to release her certificate without delay.
“Everything should not be subjected to politics. The appropriate authorities should take urgent steps to ensure she gets her discharge certificate,” Atiku said in a statement on X.
Amnesty International also criticised the NYSC’s action, while Sowore vowed to continue pressing for justice, accusing the authorities of targeting Rita to silence her.
“We will not abandon her. Her fight is our fight,” he said.
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