A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) policy which mandates female corps members to wear trousers is unconstitutional, describing it as a violation of religious rights.
In a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Hauwa Yilwa on June 13, 2025, the court held that the NYSC’s refusal to allow female participants wear skirts — in line with their Christian faith — contravenes their fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court also awarded N1 million in damages to two former corps members, Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, who were denied certificates of national service after refusing to wear trousers during the orientation programme.
The duo had cited their religious beliefs — anchored on Deuteronomy 22:5 of the Bible — which forbids women from wearing male attire.
The suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were filed separately but later consolidated due to their similar content.
The plaintiffs had approached the court to seek redress after being expelled from the NYSC scheme in 2020 over their choice to wear skirts.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yilwa held that the NYSC’s dress code, when rigidly enforced without regard to religious beliefs, amounted to discriminatory and degrading treatment.
She declared: “The refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional. The NYSC is hereby ordered to recall the affected former corps members and issue them their certificates of national service.”
The court further directed the NYSC to allow the use of skirts for any female corps member who raises genuine religious objections going forward.
Although each applicant demanded N10 million in compensation, the judge awarded N500,000 to each, stating that the court must strike a balance between recognition of rights violations and reasonable redress.
The judgment has sparked widespread public interest and reignited debates about the intersection of religion, gender, and state policies, particularly within national institutions.
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