The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) violated the constitutional rights of two former corps members by denying them the option to wear skirts during their service, thereby infringing on their religious beliefs.
In a judgment delivered on June 13, 2025, and obtained by *The PUNCH*, Justice Hauwa Yilwa declared that the NYSC’s policy mandating trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female corps members was unconstitutional. The court found that this policy breached the applicants’ rights to freedom of religion and human dignity, as enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The consolidated suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were filed by Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian. Both women argued that wearing trousers violated their Christian faith, citing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from dressing in men’s clothing.
They alleged that NYSC officials subjected them to harassment and humiliation for wearing skirts and asked the court to compel the agency to make accommodations for religious dress preferences. Among their prayers was a declaration that their use of skirts during service formed part of their religious expression, and that the NYSC’s conduct amounted to degrading treatment.
They also requested that the NYSC and its officials be compelled to recognise and provide skirts for female corps members with religious objections to trousers, in line with Section 38(1) of the Constitution and Deuteronomy 22:5. Although they each sought ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded ₦500,000 per applicant, deeming it adequate under the circumstances. Justice Yilwa stated, “The actions of the respondents resulted in the applicants being embarrassed and humiliated. This is a blatant infringement of their fundamental rights.”
The judgment mandates the NYSC to allow the use of skirts for religious purposes, recall the affected corps members, issue them their discharge certificates, and refrain from similar rights violations in the future. This decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing legal and cultural debate over religious freedoms and dress codes in Nigeria’s public institutions.
Source: https://saharareporters.com/
