Sowore Leads Protest at NYSC Headquarters Over Withheld Certificate

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday led a protest to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of the discharge certificate of corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, known as “Raye.”

Sowore, accompanied by other activists including Raye’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said the action was to ensure justice for the corps member, whose certificate has been withheld. He announced the protest via his X account on Monday, saying they would be at the NYSC office by 9 a.m.

Raye had alleged that the NYSC withheld her certificate because she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government.

However, the NYSC denied the allegation, stating the delay was due to her failure to attend the mandatory April 2025 biometric clearance. According to the corps, this violation led to a two-month extension of her service year, a sanction applied to 131 corps members for similar offences in line with NYSC Bye-Laws.

The agency emphasised that the decision was a standard disciplinary measure, not politically motivated.