“I Don’t Need Your Certificate to Succeed” – Corper Raye Fires Back at NYSC

 

The conflict between Lagos corps member Ushie Rita, popularly known as Raye, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) began after the agency withheld her Certificate of National Service. The situation garnered attention after Raye made a public statement during a live TikTok session.

Raye's Public Statement

Raye's response was one of defiance, stating that the certificate was not a measure of her success. She was quoted as saying, "I did not have that certificate before, yet my life is great. NYSC insists they are not giving me the certificate... I'm no longer interested in the certificate." She also accused the agency of hypocrisy, claiming that while they held her accountable to the rules, some of their own staff were "breaking the rules." When asked about the two-month service extension imposed by the NYSC, she declined to provide a direct response.

NYSC's Official Position

In a statement, the NYSC denied that the decision to withhold her certificate was a result of her outspoken views or criticisms of the government. They clarified that the action was based on "valid disciplinary reasons" as part of their enforcement of NYSC bye-laws. According to the organization, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld for various infractions.

The Specific Violation

The specific reason for Raye's certificate being withheld was her failure to attend the mandatory biometric clearance exercise in April 2025. Under the NYSC's bye-laws, this particular violation results in an automatic two-month extension of the service year.

Related Events

The provided text also includes a notification suggesting that the issue has escalated, mentioning "Justice for Raye': Sowore Leads Protest at NYSC Headquarters Over Withheld Certificate," indicating that the matter has attracted public and political attention.