The embattled member of National Youth Service Corps, Ms. Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu against the decision of the NYSC to extend her service period.
Uguamaye, through her counsel, Inibehe Effiong, Esq., has petitioned the Presidency to reverse what she described as a politically motivated two-month extension imposed on her by the NYSC.
In a letter addressed to President Tinubu and copied to the NYSC Director-General, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and other stakeholders, Uguamaye demanded the immediate issuance of her discharge certificate.
The appeal, titled “Appeal Against the Unlawful Extension of the Service Year of Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye with State Code Number LA/24B/8325”, accuses the NYSC of victimization and abuse of power.
According to Effiong, the corps member was falsely accused of failing to attend the April 2025 biometric monthly clearance. He maintained that Uguamaye was present on April 7 but was deliberately denied clearance by her Local Government Inspector (LGI), Ms. Veronica Abela.
The petition alleged that Abela’s actions were in retaliation for Uguamaye’s public criticism of certain policies of the Tinubu-led administration.
The counsel further stated that despite presenting her case before the Corps Disciplinary Committee, Uguamaye’s explanations were disregarded.
She said that her LGI even pressured her to alter her written response to conceal the real events surrounding the clearance dispute.
Having earlier petitioned the NYSC Director-General on August 11, 2025, without response, Effiong said the decision to escalate the matter to the Presidency was made pursuant to Section 20 of the NYSC Act, which allows aggrieved corps members to appeal directly to the President before seeking judicial intervention.
The petition cited violations of Uguamaye’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing, stressing that the NYSC’s decision sets a dangerous precedent for democracy.
It further urged Tinubu to act swiftly, warning that failure to intervene could be interpreted as presidential endorsement of political victimization within the scheme.
The statement read, “We are Solicitors to Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye (hereinafter referred to as “our Client”), a Corps member whose service year was unlawfully extended under the National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme, and upon whose firm instruction and behalf we write this letter to you.
“Our Client has drawn our attention to the arbitrary and punitive decision of the NYSC to extend her service year by two (2) months on the unfounded allegation that she failed to present herself for the April 2025 biometric monthly clearance. We state emphatically that this allegation is false, malicious, and a clear act of victimization.
“For the record, our Client duly presented herself for the said April biometric monthly clearance on the 7th day of April, 20225. However, her Local Government Inspector (LGI), Ms. Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimization, refused to screen her. This act was not due to any dereliction of duty on our Client’s part, but rather in retaliation for her exercise of her constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, after she had publicly criticized certain policies of the current Tinubu-led administration.
“It is further disturbing that following this criticism, the Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC threatened our Client with an extension of her service year. That threat has now been carried out, in clear abuse of power, violation of the Constitution, and breach of the NYSC Act.”
“Despite writing a detailed petition dated 11th August, 2025 to the Director-General (DG) of the NYSC, who is statutorily obligated to ensure fairness, discipline, and impartiality within the scheme, no redress has been given till date. The DG has failed to accede to our Client’s legitimate demand for reversal of this manifestly unjust decision. This has made it necessary for us to seek the intervention of the Presidency. Please find attached herewith the petition written to the Director-General of NYSC dated 11th August 2025,” Effiong explained.
The human rights lawyer cited abuse of office and breach of the NYSC Act.
He said, “The actions of the LGI amount to a flagrant abuse of authority and contravene the spirit of the NYSC Act, which demands fairness in disciplinary matters.
“Violation of Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) – Our Client’s right to freedom of expression has been trampled upon. Punishing a Corps member for criticizing government policies portrays the NYSC as a partisan and oppressive institution.
“Denial of fair hearing – The extension of our Client’s service year amounts to denial of her right to fair hearing as enshrined in section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), given that no proper Investigation or opportunity to defend herself was afforded before meting out this punitive measure.
“Bad precedent for democracy – If left unchecked, this matter will embolden public officials to silence dissent through the NYSC scheme, thereby eroding public confidence in the institution and by extension, the government.”
“We respectfully demand from the Presidency the following: Immediate reversal of the unlawful 2-month extension of service imposed on our Client. Immediate issuance of her NYSC discharge certificate without further delay,” the letter said.
The lawyer said the “case provides an opportunity for the Presidency to send a strong message to Nigerians and the International Community that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not endorse this blatant victimization of a citizen for holding dissenting views. Upholding our Client’s rights will: Protect the integrity of the NYSC, which was never designed to serve as a political weapon.
“Prevent the Presidency itself from being portrayed in bad light as tacitly endorsing the silencing of a young Nigerian through coercive administrative actions.”
Effiong noted that the public may wrongly interpret failure to intervene as a presidential endorsement of political persecution of corps members through the use of state institutions.
The lawyer said it would undermine the credibility of the President’s obligation to ensure justice, fairness, and democratic values.
“TAKE NOTICE that should the Presidency fail or refuse to remedy the situation, our Client shall be at liberty to seek redress before a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge this abuse of power, enforce her fundamental rights, and claim damages against the NYSC and all culpable officers, both jointly and severally,” Effiong added.
“Your Excellency, the NYSC is a unifying national institution and must not be turned into a tool of political victimization. We hope that the Presidency will urgently intervene to restore our Client’s rights, protect the integrity of the NYSC, and demonstrate unequivocally that the Presidency does not support or condone such politically motivated victimization.”
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