The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), violated the constitutional rights of two former corps members by refusing to allow them wear skirts during their national Service, thereby infringing on their religious beliefs.
In a judgement delivered on Sunday July 27, 2025, Justice Hauwa Yilwa declared the NYSC’s insistence on trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female corps members unconstitutional.
The court held that the policy infringed on the applicants rights to freedom of religion and human dignity on guaranteed Under Section 38 (1) of 1999 Constitutional (as amended).
The consolidated suits, marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/989/2020/ and FHC/CS/989/2020, were filed separately by corps members Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian.
They accused the NYSC and its Director-General of violating the fundamental rights and prayed the court to compel the scheme to recognize and provide skirt options for female corps members with religious objections to trousers.
Among the reliefs sought were “A declaration that the use of skirts by applicant in the NYSC scheme form part of the fundamental rights to freedom of religion and to manifest the same in practice and observance as provided for Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“A declaration that the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation suffered by the applicant at the hands of the NYSC officials constitute a clear infringement of her rights for freedom of religion and to manifest same practice, as well as the right to human dignity and protection from degrading treatment.
-9News Nigeria.
