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Federal High Court Approves Skirts for NYSC Female Members
In a landmark judgment, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that female members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) can wear skirts as part of their official uniform if it aligns with their religious beliefs.
The court’s decision was delivered on June 13, 2025, by Justice Hauwa Yilwa, who described the NYSC’s policy requiring only trousers for women as unconstitutional.
She stated that it goes against the right to freedom of religion and human dignity, as stated in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This ruling came after two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, filed lawsuits challenging the NYSC’s dress code.
The women argued that wearing trousers conflicted with their Christian faith and pointed to Deuteronomy 22:5, which they believe forbids women from wearing clothes meant for men.
Due to the similarities in their arguments, the court combined their cases, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020.
The NYSC and its Director-General were named as the respondents in the suits.
The former corps members requested several things from the court, including:
- A declaration that refusing to allow skirts violates their constitutional rights and religious beliefs.
- Recognition of skirts as a valid part of the NYSC female uniform.
- An order directing the NYSC to permit female corps members with religious reasons to wear skirts.
- A command to recall the affected corps members and issue their NYSC certificates.
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Justice Yilwa agreed with all the points raised by the applicants. She ruled that skirt-wearing based on religion is a valid right and should be respected by the NYSC.
The court also instructed the agency to allow any female corps member who objects to trousers for religious reasons to wear skirts instead.
In addition, the court ordered the NYSC to recall the two former corps members and issue them their certificates.
Although the applicants had requested ₦10 million each as compensation for the harassment and humiliation they faced, the court awarded them ₦500,000 each, which the judge considered fair under the circumstances.
This judgment marks a significant step forward for freedom of religious expression and may shape future policies on the NYSC female uniform and other national institutions.
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