In a landmark ruling affirming the right to religious freedom, the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) policy mandating trousers for female corps members unconstitutional.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Justice Hauwa Yilwa, delivering judgment in two consolidated suits on Sunday, held that the NYSC’s refusal to allow female corps members to wear skirts—despite religious objections—violated their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion, human dignity, and freedom from discrimination.
The judgment followed suits filed separately by two former corps members, Ogunjobi Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, whose Christian faith prohibits women from wearing garments traditionally associated with men. They cited Deuteronomy 22:5 in support of their claim, referencing the biblical directive that forbids women from wearing men’s clothing.
The suits—FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020—were later consolidated due to their similar facts and adjudicated jointly by Justice Yilwa. The applicants argued that the NYSC’s insistence on trousers, even in the face of religious objections, breached Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the NYSC Bye-Laws.
Justice Yilwa granted all reliefs sought by the applicants, ruling that:
“The refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts in accordance with their religious beliefs is unconstitutional and discriminatory. It amounts to an infringement on their fundamental rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.”
The court ordered the NYSC to recognize and allow the wearing of skirts by female corps members with genuine religious objections. It further directed the scheme to recall the affected applicants and issue them their Certificates of National Service.
In addition, the judge awarded ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant for the emotional distress, embarrassment, and humiliation they suffered—though they had originally sought ₦10 million each in compensation.
Justice Yilwa emphasized that disqualifying the women from completing their national service due to their religious attire was a clear case of religious discrimination and misinterpretation of the NYSC’s uniform policy.
This ruling sets a precedent for religious accommodation within the NYSC and could open the door for similar legal challenges from individuals of various faiths seeking to practice their religion freely while fulfilling civic obligations.