Effiong Submits Petition to NYSC DG, Says Raye’s Victimisation Must be Reversed

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has said that the victimisation of Corps member Ms Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, must be reversed, stating clearly that the National Youth Service Scheme is a service to the Nation, not a service to the President of the country.

“We have submitted a formal petition to the Director General of the NYSC today at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja, demanding the reversal of the extension of the service period of Ms. Rita Uguamaye alias Raye by two months, and that her Certificate of National Service be issued to her immediately.

History will vindicate the just.”

Speaking to Journalists on Tuesday after submitting a petition to the Director General of NYSC at its Headquarters in Abuja, Effiong stated that a corps member is neither a civil servant nor a public servant, and not even an employee of the President or Director General of the scheme.

“What has been done in the case of Raye is the demonstration of the abuse of institutions in our country. This matter started in March when she referred to the President as terrible, an opinion held by me and others. Assuming that her opinion is not factually correct, she’s entitled to it. They started in March to threaten her, persecute her and when we intervened, they backtracked. On the 7th of April, Raye presented herself at Eti Osa LG to her LGI Mrs Veronica Abela. When it got to her turn, she was told to go back and join the queue. Obviously, the woman couldn’t tell her she wouldn’t be cleared. After about 6 hours of being verbally assaulted and intimidated, Mrs Veronica Abela told her, ‘I can’t clear you.’ At the end of the Service year, everyone goes with their file for the final clearance. When she searched, she didn’t see her file. She sent a message to the LGI that she couldn’t find her file, but the woman told her there would be no need to bother, as she has custody of her file. So she refused to clear her, contrary to the misleading statement of the NYSC DG that she didn’t present herself, nor did she show up. On the 11th of April, she went back to the woman, pleading that she be allowed to undergo her biometrics. The woman told her that the biometrics were over. In August, they are now telling us that the reason why she will not be given her certificate is that she didn’t clear herself in April. It took crying out to Nigerians for her to know why her Certificate was withheld. Assuming that this is a legitimate disciplinary action, how come this decision was not communicated to her? This is an act of victimisation. They are using Raye to set an example to other Nigerians serving the country that if they complain about the hunger they experience then they will experience what Raye is experiencing. It took Raye to speak for NYSC to implement the N77,000 allowance. They are also scared that other corps members will speak out about their conditions. That’s what this is about.”

Meanwhile, well-meaning Nigerians protested against the continued victimisation of Raye by the NYSC and questioned the relevance of the scheme so far in the country.