NYSC Allegedly Refuses to Certify Raye After Service For Criticizing Tinubu

 

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Rita Ushie, widely known online as Raye, has revealed that she was denied her certificate after completing one year of mandatory national service, months after publicly criticizing Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s economic crisis.

In a video posted on X by Chuks Eric, Raye recounted how she arrived at the NYSC office alongside her colleagues to collect her discharge certificate, only to be told there was none for her.

“I did not get my NYC certificate today after one year of serving this country,” she said. “I literally went there with my cohort people, or should I say people we served together, and when it was my turn, they said, ‘No certificate for you.’”

The corps member, who earlier this year accused the NYSC of punishing her for speaking out against the government, said the incident left her emotionally drained. She described feeling “angry towards myself” and “played big time” by those in authority.

Raye had made headlines in March when she posted a viral video lamenting the soaring cost of living and calling Tinubu “a terrible person” for failing to address Nigeria’s economic collapse. Days later, she alleged NYSC officials threatened her and demanded she take the video down.

In June, the NYSC extended her service year by two months a move rights advocates described as a political reprisal. The extension ended recently, but Raye now says she has been denied the certificate that proves she served.

Reaction to her latest revelation has been swift. Social media users accused the Tinubu administration and NYSC of harassment and political victimization. “She didn’t get a certificate for serving this country after a year of mandatory service,” one commenter wrote. “There’s a problem with the ruling parties in this country.”

Another user remarked, “Whoever is handling this lady’s situation in NYSC is merely making her more popular rather than punishing her. If it escalates, you will be on your own. She is seen as a movement now.”

Critics also drew parallels with other recent incidents where individuals faced punitive measures for challenging the government, warning that speaking out in Nigeria has become increasingly risky.

The NYSC has not yet publicly addressed why Raye’s certificate was withheld.