In a landmark decision that touches on religious rights and institutional dress codes in Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must permit female corps members to wear skirts instead of trousers if doing so aligns with their religious beliefs.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Hauwa Yilwa on June 13, 2025, followed a legal challenge brought forward by two ex-corps members, Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian. Both women argued that being forced to wear trousers during their service year went against their Christian convictions, citing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from dressing like men.
According to the plaintiffs, NYSC officials repeatedly humiliated and harassed them for wearing skirts, despite their requests for religious exemption. They described their experiences as degrading and traumatic and demanded that the scheme respect their right to religious expression as guaranteed under Section 38(1) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
Justice Yilwa agreed, declaring NYSC’s uniform policy unconstitutional to the extent that it fails to consider religious accommodations. The court ruled that the NYSC infringed on the applicants’ fundamental rights, including freedom of religion, human dignity, and protection from degrading treatment.
As part of the judgment, the court ordered NYSC to officially recognize skirts as acceptable uniform attire for female corps members who object to wearing trousers on religious grounds. Additionally, the agency must recall Blessing and Vivian and issue them their discharge certificates, which had previously been withheld due to non-compliance with the standard dress code.
Although each woman sought ₦10 million in damages for emotional and psychological distress, the court awarded ₦500,000 apiece. Justice Yilwa emphasized that while the NYSC’s conduct caused significant embarrassment, the awarded compensation was sufficient under the law.
The case was filed under consolidated suits FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, invoking sections of the Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules of 2009.
This ruling is already being hailed by religious freedom advocates and human rights groups as a major win for inclusion and civil liberties. Legal analysts say it could have broader implications for how Nigerian institutions develop policies that impact people of faith.
For the two former corps members at the heart of the legal battle, the decision is not just a personal victory—it’s a precedent for others who may face similar challenges in the future.