₦airaland Forum

Court Rules in Favour of Female Corps Members, Approves Skirt Option for NYSC Uniform

In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)must allow female corps members to wear skirts as part of their official uniform if it aligns with their religious beliefs. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Justice Hauwa Yilwa, delivering judgment on June 13, 2025, held that the NYSC’s trousers-only policy for female members is unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of religion and human dignity.

Corps Members Challenge NYSC Uniform Policy in Court
The case was brought before the court by two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who filed separate but similar suits challenging the NYSC’s refusal to permit female participants to wear skirts. The suits, FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, were later consolidated due to their shared legal arguments.

Citing Deuteronomy 22:5 from the Bible, the applicants argued that wearing trousers violates their Christian faith, which discourages women from wearing attire traditionally associated with men.

Reliefs Granted by the Court
The court granted all reliefs sought by the applicants, which included:

A declaration that NYSC’s refusal to permit skirts infringed upon their constitutional rights to freedom of religion.

An order directing NYSC to allow skirts as part of the official uniform for any female corps member with genuine religious objections.

A directive to recall the affected former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates.

An award of ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant for the harassment, humiliation, and degrading treatmentsuffered during their service.

Although the applicants had sought ₦10 million in compensation each, the court awarded ₦500,000, deeming it adequate under the circumstances.

Implications for NYSC and Religious Freedom
This judgment marks a major victory for religious freedom in Nigeria and is likely to set a precedent for future challenges to uniform or institutional policies that conflict with personal faith-based practices.

Legal analysts believe the ruling could prompt a broader review of NYSC dress code policies and spark national conversation around faith-based accommodation in public institutions.

As of now, the NYSC and its Director-General, listed as respondents in the case, have not issued an official response to the court’s directive.

https://eyesoflagos.com/court-rules-in-favour-of-female-corps-members-approves-skirt-option-for-nysc-uniform/

NYSC has outlived its purpose and should be scrapped.

Complaints to or against moderators must be sent privately. Please don't disobey, disrespect, or defame them.

Well!

NYSC need to be improved for females!

It needs to be optional! People should be able to opt out!

This ruling should be overturn by the court of Appeal if not people will soon start fighting for wearing hijab and every other things.

Victory at last!

All those practicing Muslims, and Christians groups that takes morals and decency seriously will love this

GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THOSE OS THAT'LL START TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT TO DO THEIR OS WORK.
THE SKIRT SHOULD BE LONG AND LOOSE.

Skirts can be used for ceremonial marching. But when it comes to activities skirts can’t be used.

NYSC is not compulsory. Stop bringing religion into every sectors in Nigeria

Lol nysc mini skirts loading..you wan try young baddies of today

Cos they brought religion into it. Soon they'll add khaki hijab as an option

We all know who this ruling was meant to benefit in reality. In fact, the person commenting immediately above me has nailed it right on the head

It reminds me of what happened recently in the WAFCON. The Moroccan team had a defender who was dressed "religiously" and she was the worst player on the team. She was directly responsible for giving away two of the goals that Morocco conceded.

Imagine covering yourself from head fo toe when you're in a place that's experiencing intense heat wave and the weather is very hot and uncomfortable😏

Anyway, I'm glad the Moroccans lost on top of their laser light ojoro antics.

Well this is good. lets see how it goes.

I have feeling that females may abuse this privilege now by turning their NYSC trousers into short Mini Skirt

Proper Hijab should be allowed for Muslims females!

This is not a welcome development.
NYSC is a paramilitary organization. How on earth you want to do MAN 'O' WAR with Skirt ?

You will start seeing mini skirt now by slay queens


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My 40 words is not complete thats why i did this

Trousers were worn by women originally

In some climes, men wear skirts

Religious fanaticism can be from any religion. These ones are Churchgoers who think they are more pious than Holy Mary

Because of one year something you go Court

Nawa for people

[quote author=spinna post=136253840]Lol nysc mini skirts loading..you wan try young baddies of today[/quote

Soon military and paramilitary go begin dey wear skirts

Efezik007:
This is not a welcome development.
NYSC is a paramilitary organization. How on earth you want to do MAN 'O' WAR with Skirt ?

It should be optional then like Man O war. People should be able to decide not to serve (not exemption) outright decision not to serve even if below 30 years of age

unclothedness in the name of wearing skirt loading...


9ja GenZ babes ehhhh...

Georgry:
This ruling should be overturn by the court of Appeal if not people will soon start fighting for wearing hijab and every other things.

They do wear hijab already, I guess that's the basis of this skirt fight

AntiChristian:
Well!

NYSC need to be improved for females!

It needs to be optional! People should be able to opt out!

Optional?? Y'all don't even know the power the federal government has....they will soon make it Korea style where everyone will compulsorily serve in the military for one year...

Una still dey enjoy NYSC where camping is only for 3 weeks ..yet una dey ask for skirt and special treatment.....

MrIcredible:


Victory at last!

All those practicing Muslims, and Christians groups that takes morals and decency seriously will love this

Which decency? That skirt now makes it easier to open on the feedback at mami market

Well, if Hijab has been approved, it is rational that skirt should also be approved for other faith adherents

I will advise my sister to take the Nigerian navy to court. To grant them opportunity to wear skirts too.

I wonder who made our courts like dis

If it was in the time of buhari he will not honour court order, but this one be like e dey honour court order small small

Georgry:
This ruling should be overturn by the court of Appeal if not people will soon start fighting for wearing hijab and every other things.

Hijab is already allowed by NYSC.. it is really not going to change much

advanceDNA:
Optional?? Y'all don't even know the power the federal government has....they will soon make it Korea style where everyone will compulsorily serve in the military for one year...

Una still dey enjoy NYSC where camping is only for 3 weeks ..yet una dey ask for skirt and special treatment.....

It's not special treatment. It's just treating me how I have been treating myself.

Georgry:
This ruling should be overturn by the court of Appeal if not people will soon start fighting for wearing hijab and every other things.

If only Hijap is your problem ,you have failed as a person with discriminative mind, this is a free world that one should be allow to do something that is not a bad issue.