BREAKING: Federal High Court Orders NYSC to Allow Female Corps Members to Wear Skirts

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the NYSC must allow female corps members to wear skirts, declaring its trousers-only policy unconstitutional.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa awarded ₦10 million in damages to two former corps members, saying the rule violated their religious freedom and human dignity.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow female corps members to wear skirts as part of their official uniform, declaring the previous trousers-only policy unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment, stating that NYSC’s insistence on trousers violated the fundamental rights of female corps members to freedom of religion and human dignity as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

The case was brought by Ogunjobi John Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, two former corps members who were denied their discharge certificates after refusing to wear trousers during their service year. Their separate suits were later consolidated.

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Justice Yilwa ruled:

“The refusal of the NYSC to recognize and allow skirt as part of its uniform is a breach of their right as contained in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as Deuteronomy 22 v 5 of the Bible.”

The court awarded ₦10 million in damages to the plaintiffs for the violation of their rights.

NYSC had argued that all corps members sign an undertaking to abide by its rules, including the standardized uniform meant to promote discipline and unity. However, the court held that enforcing a trousers-only policy cannot override constitutionally protected religious freedoms.