Lagos Is Smelling: Nysc explains delay in issuing Raye’s discharge certificate

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied online reports claiming that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, known as “Raye” (State Code: LA/24B/8325), was refused her Certificate of National Service due to her criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NYSC dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded, stressing that the decision to extend her service was a routine measure applied to all corps members who fail to meet clearance requirements, without any political influence.

The statement, according to Tribune, read in part …

“Contrary to these claims, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose CNS was withheld not as punishment for dissent, but for valid disciplinary reasons. Specifically, her service year was extended by two months because she failed to attend the April biometric clearance, as required by the NYSC Bye-Laws.”

The scheme noted that such sanctions have always been part of its operational procedures. Raye had previously drawn public attention after a TikTok video in which she criticised the Tinubu administration and described Lagos as “smelling” went viral, prompting her to later issue an apology following public backlash.