The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on June 13, 2025, that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow female corps members to wear skirts instead of trousers if they have religious objections, declaring the agency’s trousers-only policy unconstitutional.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa, in a judgment found that the NYSC’s refusal violated the fundamental rights to freedom of religion and human dignity under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The ruling stemmed from consolidated suits by former corps members Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, who argued that wearing trousers contradicted their Christian faith, citing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from wearing male garments.
The court granted all reliefs sought, ordering the NYSC to recognize skirts as an acceptable uniform for female corps members with genuine religious objections and to recall the plaintiffs to issue their service certificates.
Justice Yilwa declared that the harassment and humiliation faced by the applicants, including their disqualification from service, constituted a “blatant infringement” of their rights. Each plaintiff was awarded ₦500,000 in damages, reduced from their ₦10 million claim, with the court deeming it sufficient for the emotional distress caused.
