Omoyele Sowore, a prominent activist and former presidential candidate, led a protest to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters in Abuja.
The protest aimed to demand the immediate release of the discharge certificate of Ms. Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member whose service year was allegedly extended unjustly.
According to the protesters, Ms. Uguamaye had fulfilled her national service and deserved her discharge certificate without delay.
Sowore accused the NYSC of being used as a tool for political retribution and called for accountability within the institution.
A formal protest letter was submitted to the NYSC Director-General, detailing the alleged victimization of Ms. Uguamaye.
The letter stated that Ms. Uguamaye’s local government inspector, Ms. Veronica Abela, refused to process her biometric clearance in April 2025, allegedly in retaliation for her criticism of government policies.
The letter read, “Our client duly presented herself for the said April 2025 biometric monthly clearance on the 7th day of April, 2025.
However, her local government inspector, Ms. Veronica Abela, in an act of deliberate and targeted victimisation, refused to screen her.”
The protesters also alleged that Ms. Uguamaye’s file was seized without cause, and she was denied a fair hearing before her service year was extended.
The letter emphasized that
“this extension of our client’s service year amounts to denial of her right to a fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.
The NYSC was accused of being a tool for political retribution, with the letter stating,
“The NYSC is established by statute as a neutral, non-partisan institution, and not as an apparatus for political retribution”.
The protesters warned that failure to address the matter would lead to further action, stating, “Take notice that failure to comply with our demands will leave our client with no option but to immediately lodge a formal appeal with the Presidency and seek redress in court”.
The NYSC Director-General was unavailable to receive the protesters, reportedly due to being away on an assignment.
