The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to permit female corps members to wear skirts as part of their official uniform, ruling that the current restriction to trousers violates constitutional rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.
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Delivering the judgment on June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa declared the NYSC’s policy, which mandates trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female participants, unconstitutional. A certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Sunday.
The decision followed two separate suits filed by former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who argued that being compelled to wear trousers during their service year contradicted their Christian beliefs. The women referenced Deuteronomy 22:5, a Bible verse they interpret as forbidding women from wearing male clothing.
Justice Yilwa held that the NYSC’s refusal to allow them to wear skirts amounted to an infringement on their rights to practice their religion freely. She further ruled that the policy subjected them to undue harassment and degrading treatment.
The court granted all the reliefs sought by the applicants, including a declaration that the NYSC’s policy was unconstitutional. In addition, the court awarded N500,000 in damages to each applicant for the violation of their fundamental rights.
Justice Yilwa also directed the NYSC to recall both former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates, which had been withheld due to their refusal to wear trousers during service.
