BREAKING: Protests Loom Over Withheld NYSC Certificate Of Corps Member Rita Raye
Plans are underway for mass protests in Abuja and Lagos as supporters of Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Rita Raye, prepare to storm National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) secretariats to demand justice over the extension of her service year by two months.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore made the announcement during an X Space titled #TalkWithSowore: Unpacking The Recent Events.
He revealed that a recent meeting in Abuja ended with calls for demonstrations beginning Monday in both cities over the issue.
“Already, we’re just coming from a meeting in Abuja, where people are already even telling us that we should go and storm the NYSC secretariat tomorrow (Monday),” Sowore said.
“We will also mobilise for the Lagos protest. But we ask them to hold on, but no matter what, if nothing changes, either Monday, Tuesday, or within the week, we will mobilise to storm NYSC secretariats.”
The planned protests follow the NYSC’s decision to withhold Rita’s NYSC discharge certificate after completing her service year.
She had publicly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration in March over worsening economic hardship.
Also, Sowore commended Rita’s bravery, stating, “I just want you to know that we, as proud of what you are, that you are not afraid. And a lot of Nigerians are behind you.”
He also disclosed that the controversy surrounding her case contributed to the recent increase in the NYSC allowance to N77,000.
“What most people don’t know, and I will reveal today, is that you are the reason why the youth corps members started getting N77,000 allowance,” he added.
Rita gained national attention in March after posting a viral video highlighting the economic crisis and alleging threats from NYSC officials demanding she delete the content.
Civil rights groups widely condemned the NYSC’s handling of the situation as an attack on freedom of expression.
Despite multiple summons to disciplinary panels and local government offices, Rita was eventually informed of the extension of her service year, sparking outrage among activists who accuse the NYSC of unjust treatment.
Earlier, Sowore vowed on his verified X account to lead mass mobilisation at the NYSC Passing-Out-Parade if the agency failed to clear Rita to complete her service.
Earlier on Sunday, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) called on the NYSC management to immediately release the corps member’s discharge certificate.
Falana described the decision to withhold her certificate as an illegal act of retaliation for her public criticism of the economic policies of President Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement on Sunday, Falana condemned the NYSC’s action, emphasising that any court order did not authorise the seizure and is therefore unlawful.
He drew parallels with a similar incident in 1988 when the NYSC confiscated the discharge certificate of the late Bamidele Aturu for refusing to accept an award from the military governor of Niger State, highlighting that such acts were common under Nigeria’s military regimes but unacceptable in a democratic era.
He described the withholding of her certificate as “a cheap demonstration of over-zealousness”.
“The seizure of the NYSC Discharge Certificate is illegal as it was not authorised by any competent court,” he said.
