In a pivotal decision for religious rights and dress code flexibility in Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must permit female corps members to wear skirts when their religious beliefs conflict with the mandatory trousers uniform policy. The court declared NYSC’s earlier prohibition unconstitutional, marking a significant milestone in upholding freedom of religion and human dignity.

The judgment, handed down by Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa on *June 13 and 14, 2025, stemmed from two consolidated lawsuits filed by Ogunjobi John Blessing and Ayuba Vivian, both former corps members who argued that being compelled to wear trousers violated their Christian faith. They invoked Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as prohibiting women from dressing in clothing traditionally associated with men.

Justice Yilwa declared the NYSC’s trousers-only policy a breach of Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which protects freedom of religion and the right to manifest beliefs. The court also found that NYSC’s enforcement subjected the plaintiffs to harassment, humiliation, and degrading treatment.

The court granted all reliefs sought in the suits, including declarations that NYSC’s refusal to permit skirts was unconstitutional and that female corps members with genuine religious objections must be permitted to wear skirts as part of their official uniform. The judgment further ordered NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue them their NYSC discharge certificates without further delay.

Although both applicants had sought ₦10 million in damages, the court awarded ₦500,000 each, deeming this amount appropriate compensation for the emotional distress and infringement of their fundamental rights.

Justice Yilwa emphasized that NYSC’s conduct amounted to religious discrimination. She noted that the applicants were denied their discharge certificates simply because they'd refused to wear trousers, thereby denying them the opportunity to complete their national service. This, the court held, violated not only their rights to religion and dignity but also fair administrative treatment.

Legal experts and advocates for religious freedom have hailed the decision as transformative: it affirms that state-mandated uniforms cannot override an individual’s sincerely held religious convictions. The ruling also signals a corrective to past resistance by state institutions to adjust policies that inadvertently infringe upon constitutionally protected freedoms.

While similar rulings were delivered in other jurisdictions—such as the Federal High Court in Abakaliki in early 2024, ordering NYSC to allow skirts based on religious grounds and awarding damages—this Abuja judgment carries greater weight, given its seat in the nation’s capital and its direct challenge to NYSC’s central doctrine.

The Abakaliki case saw Justice H.A. Nganjiwa award ₦5 million to corps member Ufumaka Glory Ukpanken and issue a perpetual injunction barring NYSC from forcing any female corps member to wear trousers. That judgment, however, applied only within Ebonyi State. The Abuja ruling now sets nationwide precedent.

Legal Foundation and Constitutional Implications 

The ruling leaned heavily on Section 38(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to manifest religious beliefs in practice. The court also invoked Section 42, which prohibits discrimination on religious grounds, in addition to relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The applicants had also referenced NYSC’s own Bye-Laws, particularly Schedule 2, Article 1(I)(a), arguing that the insistence on trousers exceeded the regulatory scope of the uniform requirement and undermined individual religious expression.

Broader Social and Institutional Impact

Civil society groups and legal activists see this judgment as symbolic and practical: symbolic in affirming religious conscience over bureaucratic uniformity; practical in guaranteeing that future female corps members who object to trousers on genuine religious grounds cannot be denied their discharge certificates or penalized.

The NYSC has not yet issued an official statement responding to the court’s orders, but the implications are clear: compliance with the judgment will require major shifts in operations, uniform distribution, and training protocols.

What Happens Next 

NYSC must now:

- Permit female corps members who cite legitimate religious grounds to wear skirts instead of trousers.


- Recall and issue discharge certificates to the two affected former corps members.


- Compensate them ₦500,000 each as ruled by the court.


- Reform policies to prevent future violations of religious freedom.

Failure to comply could expose the agency to further legal scrutiny or contempt proceedings. This precedent also opens the door for others, across states or faith traditions, to assert dress code rights within state-run programs.