Human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned the continued injustice meted out to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Rita Uguamaye, popularly called “Raye,” after she was denied her NYSC discharge certificate last Thursday.
Sowore pledged unwavering commitment to ensuring justice in Raye’s case, declaring, “I was fully ready to stand with Raye to make sure she received her @officialnyscng discharge certificate. Unfortunately, I was unlawfully detained in Abuja by the criminal @officialABAT regime. Our promise to fight for her justice remains intact. We won’t relent until we win and dismantle this oppressive system.”
He lauded Raye’s bravery, noting that her activism was a driving force behind the approval of a ₦77,000 monthly allowance for NYSC members. “It was her courage that pushed the authorities to increase her colleagues’ stipend. We will not abandon her—her fight is our fight,” Sowore stressed.
The activist described the battle for Raye’s rights as part of a broader struggle against systemic oppression in Nigeria and urged citizens to remain resolute in the quest for fairness. Chronicles Reporters earlier reported that the NYSC extended Raye’s service year by two months after her public criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the worsening economic situation.
Raye had gained nationwide attention in March when she posted a viral video decrying the economic crisis and alleging threats from NYSC officials pressuring her to delete the post. The move was widely criticised by civil rights groups and citizens, who accused the NYSC of suppressing free speech.
Following the controversy, the NYSC Local Government Inspector in Eti-Osa summoned her for questioning. However, when Raye arrived with Sowore and her legal team, the official responsible for the summons was absent. The matter briefly lost public traction until Wednesday, June 18, when she was again called to face a disciplinary panel at the Iyana Ipaja NYSC orientation camp in Lagos. After prolonged delays, she was informed that her service year had been extended as punishment.
In June, Chronicles Reporters also noted that Sowore threatened to mobilise supporters to attend the NYSC Passing-Out Parade (POP) if the agency failed to allow Raye to complete her service. He accused President Tinubu’s administration of targeting her unfairly and warned that the situation could escalate if left unresolved, saying the “Tinubu regime might go down with the Rita Raye NYSC matter.”
Sowore, a persistent critic of the Tinubu government, has consistently fought against injustice and for youth rights—especially on matters involving freedom of expression and civic responsibility in Nigeria.
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