NYSC Skirt Ruling: Abuja court declares NYSC’s trousers-only policy unconstitutional, upholding female corps members’ religious freedom and awarding damages

NYSC Skirt Ruling has rocked Nigeria’s legal and civil rights landscape after the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the National Youth Service Corps’ refusal to allow skirts for religious reasons unconstitutional.

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In a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Hauwa Yilwa on June 13, 2025, the court ruled that NYSC’s enforcement of trousers-only uniforms for female corps members violates the 1999 Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion and human dignity.

The case was brought by former corps members Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who argued that the policy conflicted with their Christian beliefs.

They cited Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as a prohibition against women wearing men’s clothing.

Justice Yilwa consolidated their suits and ruled in their favor, stating that the NYSC’s policy not only infringed on their right to practice religion but also subjected them to harassment and degrading treatment.

The NYSC Skirt Ruling mandates the NYSC to allow skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.

The court further ordered that both applicants be recalled, issued certificates, and compensated ₦500,000 each for the violation of their fundamental rights.

Although the applicants had sought ₦10 million in damages, the court considered ₦500,000 reasonable given the circumstances.

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The judgment reinforces Nigeria’s constitutional protections for religious expression and sets a new precedent for respecting individual beliefs in state-run institutions.