Education

Breaking Barriers: Court Approves Skirts for Female NYSC Members on Religious Grounds

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 28th, 2025.

Breaking Barriers: Court Approves Skirts for Female NYSC Members on Religious Grounds

NYSC

In a groundbreaking decision, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must permit female corps members to wear skirts as part of their official uniform if doing so is in line with their religious convictions, according to reports from Eyes of Lagos.

On June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the judgment, declaring the NYSC’s policy requiring female corps members to wear only trousers unconstitutional. The court held that this policy infringes on fundamental rights guaranteed under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which protects freedom of religion and human dignity.

Challenge Against NYSC’s Uniform Policy

The case was initiated by two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who independently filed similar lawsuits challenging the NYSC’s refusal to allow skirts. Their cases, FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were combined due to their shared legal basis.

The plaintiffs cited Deuteronomy 22:5 from the Bible, arguing that wearing trousers contradicts their Christian beliefs, which discourage women from adopting clothing traditionally worn by men.

Court Orders and Remedies Granted

The court granted the applicants’ requests in full, including:

A formal declaration that the NYSC’s ban on skirts violates the applicants’ constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

A directive mandating the NYSC to allow skirts as part of the official uniform for female corps members with sincere religious objections.

An order for the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates.

Compensation of ₦500,000 awarded to each applicant for the distress, humiliation, and mistreatment experienced during their service.

Although the plaintiffs initially sought ₦10 million each in damages, the court determined ₦500,000 to be appropriate given the circumstances.

Significance and Future Impact

This ruling represents a significant advancement for religious freedom in Nigeria and may serve as a precedent for future legal challenges against institutional policies conflicting with personal faith.

Legal experts suggest this judgment could trigger a wider reassessment of the NYSC’s dress code and stimulate broader public dialogue on accommodating religious beliefs within public service frameworks.

As of now, the NYSC and its Director-General, who were respondents in the case, have yet to issue an official statement regarding the court’s decision.