The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) refusal to allow female corps members to wear skirts in observance of their religious beliefs unconstitutional, ruling it a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion.
In a judgment delivered on June 13, 2025, a certified true copy of which was obtained on Sunday, Justice Hauwa Yilwa held that the NYSC’s enforcement of trousers as the sole acceptable uniform for female participants infringed upon constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.
The ruling followed consolidated cases originally filed separately by former corps members Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, whose legal claims shared significant similarities.
The suits, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, challenged the NYSC’s uniform policy. The applicants argued that being compelled to wear trousers conflicted with their Christian faith, citing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from wearing garments associated with men.
Both applicants sought enforcement of their fundamental rights under the Nigerian Constitution, claiming these had been violated by the NYSC and its Director-General, the respondents in the suits.
The legal actions referenced Order 11, Rules 1–5 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009; Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); Articles 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 17, and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The applicants sought declarations that the NYSC’s refusal to recognize skirts as part of the uniform violated Section 38(1) of the Nigerian Constitution and misinterpreted Schedule 2, Article 1(I)(a) of the NYSC Bye-Laws 1993. They argued that wearing skirts was part of their fundamental rights to freedom of religion and its manifestation. They also claimed that the harassment and humiliation they endured at the hands of NYSC officials constituted infringements on their rights to religious freedom, human dignity, and protection from degrading treatment. Furthermore, they requested an order compelling the NYSC to recognize, allow, and provide skirts for female corps members who wished to wear them for religious reasons, as well as damages of ₦10,000,000 each for the violation of their rights.
Justice Yilwa ruled that the NYSC’s insistence on trousers infringed on the applicants’ constitutional right to manifest their religion and subjected them to undue harassment and degrading treatment.
The court granted all the reliefs sought, issuing identical orders in both cases. It declared that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional and ordered the NYSC to recognize and permit skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections. The court also directed the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates accordingly.
The court further declared that the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation suffered by the applicants at the hands of NYSC officials constituted a clear infringement of their fundamental rights to religious freedom and practice.
While the applicants requested ₦10 million in damages each, the court awarded ₦500,000 to each, deeming this amount adequate under the circumstances.
Justice Yilwa emphasized that denying the applicants the opportunity to complete their national service due to their attire amounted to religious discrimination. She stated, “The actions of the respondents resulted in the applicants being embarrassed and humiliated. This is a blatant infringement of their fundamental rights.”
