The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts in accordance with their religious beliefs as unconstitutional.
In a landmark judgment delivered on June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa held that compelling female participants in the scheme to wear trousers contrary to their sincerely held religious convictions amounts to a breach of their rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and relevant human rights instruments.
The case was brought by two former corps members, Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, who argued that the NYSC’s uniform policy infringed on their Christian faith, which, according to Deuteronomy 22:5, prohibits women from wearing attire traditionally associated with men.
The suits, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were initially filed separately against the NYSC and its Director-General, but were later consolidated due to their shared subject matter.
Relying on Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the applicants urged the court to declare the NYSC’s policy unconstitutional and discriminatory.
They also sought compensation and requested the issuance of their certificates of national service, having been denied the opportunity to complete the programme due to their refusal to wear trousers.
In her considered ruling, Justice Yilwa found in their favour, declaring that the NYSC’s uniform policy, when applied rigidly, not only undermines religious freedom but also subjects the claimants to degrading treatment.
“A declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional,” she ruled.
She issued an order mandating the NYSC to recognise and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.
She also directed the agency to recall the two affected women and award them their NYSC certificates accordingly.
While the applicants had each sought ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded them ₦500,000 apiece, citing the need to acknowledge the harm suffered without overreaching in monetary redress.
The judgment has already drawn wide public interest, reigniting long-standing debates around the intersection of state policy, religious liberty, and gendered dress codes.
Public Reactions Trail Court Ruling on NYSC Skirt Approval
Peter Owoicho stated, “If a highly intellectual asset like a court judge can no longer think rightly because of a decline in the power of human reasoning, then emotion and religion will become a driving force in judging a case. Ok! Let them wear skirts. The judge should also order corps members to wear robes or turbans. If the type of training they undergo in their various camps will be easier to do with whatever dress they put on, it’s fine now. Na Nigeria we dey!”
Donan Danailu reacted, “Aahhhh skirt gini? How dem go match? Small thing now, we go hear make dem allow female soldiers wear skirt. Abeg, if you no fit wear trousers, no go service.”
Newton Dor asked, “How can they perform paramilitary training with skirts? Or will they be exempted?”
Dinchi Jacob advised, “Any corps member that wants to use skirts should indicate during online registration so that she will be posted to Maiduguri.”
The court’s decision also sets a new precedent for the treatment of faith-based objections within government-administered programmes.
