No More Trousers? Court Orders NYSC to Accept Skirts for Female Corpers
Court Declares NYSC Ban on Skirt-Wearing for Female Corps Members Unconstitutional
No More Trousers? Court Orders NYSC to Accept Skirts for Female Corpers
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) policy prohibiting female corps members from wearing skirts due to religious reasons violates constitutional rights.
In a landmark judgment delivered on June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa held that compelling female corps members to wear trousers — in contradiction to their sincerely held religious beliefs — infringes on their rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and various human rights treaties.
Eagles Sight News gathers that the case was filed by two former corps members, Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, who contended that NYSC’s dress code conflicted with their Christian beliefs. They referenced Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpreted as forbidding women from wearing clothing typically worn by men:
“According to Deuteronomy 22:5, prohibits women from donning attire traditionally associated with men.”
The matters, initially filed separately and registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were later consolidated due to the similarity of their subject matter.
Citing Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution along with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the applicants asked the court to declare the NYSC uniform directive unconstitutional and discriminatory. They also sought financial compensation and the issuance of their NYSC certificates, which had been withheld due to their refusal to comply with the dress code.
In her verdict, Justice Yilwa sided with the applicants, asserting that the rigid enforcement of the uniform policy disregards religious freedom and results in degrading treatment.“
A declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional,” she stated.
She further ordered that:
“An order mandating the NYSC to recognise and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.
”A directive compelling the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates accordingly.”
Accordingly, the NYSC was instructed to accommodate female corps members who raise genuine religious objections to wearing trousers and to recall and award certificates to the two claimants.
Although each applicant sought ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded ₦500,000 each, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging their grievances without imposing excessive financial penalties.
The judgment has attracted significant public interest, reopening debates about the balance between state-imposed regulations and individual religious rights. Legal analysts suggest the ruling sets a critical precedent regarding faith-based objections within federal programmes.