A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) violated the constitutional rights of two former female corps members by refusing to allow them wear skirts in line with their religious beliefs.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa, in a landmark judgment delivered on June 13 and 14, 2025, held that NYSC’s insistence on trousers as the sole acceptable uniform for female corps members breached their fundamental rights to freedom of religion, dignity, and protection from degrading treatment, 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 John Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian. The plaintiffs, both Christians, argued that being compelled to wear trousers contradicted their religious convictions based on Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from wearing male attire.
Justice Yilwa agreed, describing NYSC’s uniform policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional. The court ordered the NYSC to officially permit the wearing of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections and to recall the applicants for service, issuing them appropriate discharge certificates.
The judge further ruled that the mistreatment and humiliation suffered by the applicants at the hands of NYSC officials constituted a violation of their rights. Although each woman sought ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded ₦500,000 to each, describing the amount as fair compensation.
The judgment emphasized that barring the women from completing their service due to their attire amounted to religious discrimination, and reinforced that freedom of religion includes the right to dress in accordance with one’s faith.
