In a landmark judgment that reinforces religious freedom in Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow female corps members to wear skirts as part of their uniform, if required by their religious beliefs.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Hauwa Yilwa on June 13, 2025, declared the NYSC’s trousers-only policy for female participants unconstitutional, stating it violates their fundamental rights to religion and human dignity as guaranteed under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Legal Challenge: Freedom of Religion vs Uniform Policy
The case was filed by two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who filed separate suits that were later consolidated under suit numbers FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020 due to their similar legal positions.
The applicants argued that NYSC’s refusal to recognize skirts as part of the official female uniform infringed on their Christian faith, referencing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from wearing garments designated for men.
Reliefs Granted by the Court
Justice Yilwa granted all the reliefs sought by the applicants, which include:
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A declaration that refusal to allow skirts under the NYSC scheme violates Section 38(1) of the Constitution and constitutes religious discrimination.
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A declaration that the harassment, humiliation, and embarrassment experienced by the applicants at NYSC orientation camps amount to a breach of human dignity.
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An order compelling NYSC to recognize skirts as acceptable for female corps members with genuine religious objections.
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A directive for the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates.
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An award of ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant for emotional distress and violation of rights.
Although the applicants had initially sought ₦10 million in compensation, the court ruled that ₦500,000 was adequate given the circumstances.
