Court Declares NYSC Skirt Ban Unconstitutional
An Abuja-based Federal High Court has nullified the NYSC’s policy that required female corps members to wear trousers as part of their uniform. The court ruled that the regulation violates constitutionally protected rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion and the right to human dignity.
Background
The case was brought before the court by two former corps members, Miss Blessing Ogunjobi and Miss Vivian Ayuba, who each filed separate lawsuits (later merged) challenging the NYSC’s dress code. They argued that being compelled to wear trousers contradicted their Christian faith, citing Deuteronomy 22:5, a biblical verse they interpret as forbidding women from wearing clothes traditionally associated with men.
In their suits (FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020), they sought multiple forms of relief, including:
- A declaration that NYSC’s trousers-only rule is unconstitutional and discriminatory;
- An order requiring NYSC to allow skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections;
- Compensation for the emotional distress they endured, initially asking for ₦10 million each; and
- Issuance of their national service discharge certificates, which had been withheld.
The Judge’s Decision
On June 13, 2025, Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered a landmark judgment. She declared NYSC’s trousers-only policy unconstitutional and an infringement on the plaintiffs’ rights under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and relevant provisions of the African Charter.
Justice Yilwa granted the plaintiffs:
- A declaration that refusing to allow skirts for religious reasons is unlawful;
- An order directing NYSC to recognise and permit skirt-wearing for female corps members who object to trousers;
- A mandate to recall the affected women and issue their NYSC certificates;
- Compensation of ₦500,000 each, instead of the ₦10 million initially sought, acknowledging the harm caused as sufficient under the circumstances.
She emphasized that the refusal to accommodate skirts amounted to religious discrimination and subjected the applicants to humiliation and degrading treatment.
Implications
This ruling marks a significant development in Nigeria’s legal landscape around religious accommodation and dress code policies in public institutions. It overturns the NYSC’s long-standing uniform standard and mandates respect for individual beliefs when they conflict with institutional rules.
NYSC had not issued any official statement in response at the time of reporting. Legal analysts predict this judgment may prompt broader institutional reforms and signal a shift toward more inclusive policy frameworks around religious expression.
Court: Federal High Court, Abuja
Judge: Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa
Judgment date: June 13, 2025
Plaintiffs: Blessing Ogunjobi and Vivian Ayuba
Relief granted:
- Declares NYSC’s trousers-only rule unconstitutional
- Orders NYSC to allow skirts for those with religious objections
- Mandates issuance of NYSC discharge certificates
- ₦500,000 in damages per plaintiff