Court orders NYSC to allow female corps members wear skirts

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow female corps members to wear skirts in line with their religious beliefs, declaring the agency’s trousers-only policy unconstitutional.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa, who delivered the judgement on June 13, 2025, held that enforcing trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female corps members violates their fundamental rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion and human dignity, as enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The court’s decision came after two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, filed separate suits that were later consolidated due to their similar legal arguments.

The applicants challenged the NYSC’s uniform policy, which required all female participants to wear trousers, arguing that it clashed with their Christian faith and cited Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as forbidding women from wearing clothing associated with men.

They sought the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the refusal of the NYSC to recognise and allow skirts as part of the NYSC uniform constitutes a breach of the applicant’s right under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Deuteronomy 22:5 of the Bible, and a misinterpretation of Schedule 2, Article 1(I)(a) of the NYSC Bye-Laws 1993.”

“A declaration that the use of skirts by the applicant in the NYSC scheme forms part of her fundamental rights to freedom of religion and to manifest the same in practice and observance as provided for in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

“A declaration that the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation suffered by the applicant at the hands of NYSC officials constitute a clear infringement of her rights to freedom of religion and to manifest same in practice, as well as the right to human dignity and protection from degrading treatment.”

“An order compelling the respondents, their servants, agents, privies, or anyone acting on their behalf, to recognise, allow, and provide skirts for the applicant or any female corps member wishing to wear same in accordance with Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Deuteronomy 22:5.”

In the consolidated suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, the NYSC and its Director-General were listed as respondents.

The applicants also asked for:

“A declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional.”

“An order mandating the NYSC to recognise and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.”

“A directive compelling the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates accordingly,” the court stated.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by the applicants, including a declaration that the refusal to allow skirts amounted to a breach of their constitutional rights and a directive that the NYSC must recognise skirts as an acceptable part of the uniform for any female corps member with religious objections.

Justice Yilwa also ruled that the affected former corps members be recalled and issued their NYSC certificates.

Additionally, the court awarded ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant for the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation they endured.

Although the applicants had sought ₦10 million in compensation, the judge deemed the ₦500,000 award adequate in the circumstances.

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