Embattled corps member, Rita Uguamaye, widely known as Raye, has officially petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding what she describes as an “unlawful and politically motivated” extension of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year, a decision she claims is both arbitrary and retaliatory in nature.
Raye, through her legal representative, Inibehe Effiong, Esq., accused the NYSC of deliberate victimisation and abuse of authority, asserting that the punitive extension of her service term was in direct response to her public criticism of certain policies under the Tinubu administration. The corps member contends that she has been unfairly targeted for exercising her constitutional right to freedom of expression.
The petition, formally addressed to President Tinubu and copied to the NYSC Director-General, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and other relevant stakeholders, demands the immediate revocation of the two-month service extension and the issuance of her discharge certificate without further delay. It was titled “Appeal Against the Unlawful Extension of the Service Year of Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye with State Code Number LA/24B/8325.”
In the petition, Effiong wrote: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
The petition further detailed that Raye had duly presented herself for the April biometric monthly clearance on the 7th day of April 2025, but her Local Government Inspector (LGI), Ms. Veronica Abela, allegedly refused to screen her. According to Effiong, this refusal was not due to any dereliction of duty on Raye’s part, but rather a deliberate act of targeted retaliation for her public criticism of the current administration. “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,” the petition stated.
It was further revealed that following her criticism, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator allegedly threatened Raye with an extension of her service year—a threat that has now been carried out. Effiong described this as a clear abuse of power, a violation of the Constitution, and a breach of the NYSC Act, noting that despite a prior petition dated 11th August 2025 addressed to the NYSC Director-General, no redress or corrective action had been taken to 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,” the petition read, with a copy of the earlier petition attached for reference.
Effiong further argued that the extension infringes upon Raye’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing. He cautioned that allowing such actions to stand without intervention could establish a dangerous precedent, undermining democratic principles and the impartiality of the NYSC scheme. “This case violates her constitutional rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing. Allowing such practices to persist will set a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria,” he stated.
The human rights lawyer urged President Tinubu to intervene immediately, stressing that failure to act could be interpreted as tacit approval of political victimisation within the NYSC. Effiong also hinted that the corps member may seek judicial recourse if the matter is not promptly addressed, signalling the potential for legal proceedings to challenge the NYSC’s actions if administrative remedies continue to be ignored.
The petition has drawn attention to broader concerns regarding fairness, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights within the NYSC scheme, highlighting the need for prompt government intervention to prevent further misuse of power and to uphold the integrity of the national service program.