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, citing the right to freedom of religion and human dignity. The judgment, delivered on June 13, 2025, by Justice Hauwa Yilwa, declared the NYSC's refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts as unconstitutional ¹ ².
Background of the Case
Two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, filed separate suits against the NYSC, arguing that the organization's uniform policy, which requires female participants to wear trousers, contradicts their Christian faith. They cited Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from wearing garments associated with men ³.
Court's Decision
The court granted all the reliefs sought by the applicants, including ² ¹:
- *Declaration of Unconstitutionality*: A declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional.
- *Permission to Wear Skirts*: An order mandating the NYSC to recognize and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.
- *Recall of Affected Corps Members*: A directive compelling the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates accordingly.
- *Damages*: The court awarded ₦500,000 to each applicant, stating that the NYSC's actions resulted in the applicants being embarrassed and humiliated.
Implications of the Judgment
The judgment emphasizes that denying the applicants the opportunity to complete their national service due to their attire amounts to religious discrimination. The court's decision is a significant step towards promoting religious freedom and human dignity ⁴.
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