5 Key Reasons the Court Ruled in Favour of Skirt-Wearing for Female NYSC Members

In a landmark judgement delivered on June 13, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja declared that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) cannot deny female corps members the right to wear skirts in observance of their religious beliefs. The court held that such a policy is unconstitutional and violates fundamental human rights.

Here are five major reasons Justice Hauwa Yilwa ruled in favour of the applicants:

1. Violation of Freedom of Religion (Section 38)

The court found that the NYSC’s insistence on trousers for all female corps members infringes on Section 38(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion—including the freedom to manifest such beliefs in practice and observance.

2. Religious Belief Backed by Scripture

The applicants, Blessing Ogunjobi and Vivian Ayuba, cited Deuteronomy 22:5 as the basis of their Christian conviction against wearing trousers, a stance the court acknowledged as sincere and deserving of protection under the law.

3. Harassment and Degrading Treatment

The judge condemned the reported harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation suffered by the applicants at the hands of NYSC officials as a breach of human dignity and degrading treatment, which is unconstitutional.

4. No Legal Basis for Uniform Restriction

Justice Yilwa ruled that the NYSC’s uniform policy has no overriding legal justification to override constitutionally protected religious rights. The court clarified that enforcing a single dress code without provision for exceptions based on genuine religious grounds is discriminatory.

5. Monetary Compensation and Legal Redress

While the applicants demanded ₦10 million in damages each, the court awarded ₦500,000 to each applicant for the violation of their fundamental rights. Additionally, the court ordered NYSC to:

 • Recognise and allow skirts as part of the official uniform for religious purposes.

 • Recall the affected former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates.

This judgement is a significant precedent on the intersection of religious freedom and institutional uniform policies in Nigeria, with possible wide-reaching implications for other public agencies.