The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has refuted reports circulating on social media claiming that a corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, with state code number LA/24B/8325, was denied her Certificate of National Service (CNS) over alleged critical comments about the government.
Uguamaye had drawn public attention after criticising the Federal Government over the delay in paying the recently approved increase in monthly allowance to serving corps members. The government had raised the allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, but payment of the revised amount was delayed, prompting Uguamaye to release a viral video lamenting the hardship caused to corps members.
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Her comments generated mixed reactions while some hailed her boldness, others argued it was improper for a serving corps member to publicly criticise the government or the scheme. Rumours later emerged that her service year had been extended as punishment, and more recently, claims surfaced that her certificate had been withheld for political reasons.
Responding in a statement on Sunday via its official social media handles, the NYSC dismissed the allegations as “entirely unfounded and false in their entirety,” stressing that the decision to withhold Uguamaye’s certificate was based on “valid disciplinary reasons” in line with its established regulations.
According to the NYSC, Uguamaye is among 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld for various infractions. In her case, the scheme said her service year was extended by two months after she failed to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance exercise, a breach that attracts an automatic extension under the NYSC bye-laws.
“This extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case. The principle of equal treatment was applied as it is in all similar situations,” the statement read.
The NYSC urged the public to assess the matter objectively and avoid politicising it, noting that such sanctions for non-compliance have been part of the scheme’s operations for decades.
“The NYSC remains committed to discharging its mandate in line with the dictates of the constitution,” the statement added, while reaffirming its pledge to uphold fairness, discipline, and professionalism in the conduct of the national service.
