Court orders NYSC to allow skirt uniform for female corps members

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) violated the rights of two former corps members by denying them the option to wear skirts, despite their religious convictions.

In a judgement delivered on June 13, 2025—but obtained only recently—Justice Hauwa Yilwa declared that the NYSC’s insistence on trousers as the only uniform for female participants breached their constitutional rights, particularly the freedom of religion and protection from degrading treatment.

The legal action was brought by Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian in two separate suits, which were later merged by the court due to their similar legal grounds.

In their suits (FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020), the applicants stated that being forced to wear trousers contradicted their Christian beliefs. They referenced Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as forbidding women from dressing in men’s clothing.

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The women sought the court’s intervention to affirm their right to wear skirts during the NYSC programme and demanded that the scheme provide for such clothing accommodations.

Among other reliefs, they asked the court to rule 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.”

“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).

“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.”

They also requested ₦10 million each in damages, alongside any other relief the court deemed appropriate.

The respondents in the case were the NYSC and its Director-General.
Justice Yilwa ruled in favour of the applicants, granting all the reliefs they sought and issuing identical orders in both cases.

“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 judge said.

She further held that the treatment meted out to the applicants by NYSC officials—described as harassment and humiliation—amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights.

“The actions of the respondents resulted in the applicants being embarrassed and humiliated. This is a blatant infringement of their fundamental rights,” Justice Yilwa declared.

While the applicants had each demanded ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded ₦500,000 to each, describing it as appropriate compensation for the infringement of their rights.

The judgement is expected to set a significant precedent regarding religious expression within Nigeria’s national service scheme.