A court has mandated that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permit female corps members to wear skirts.

In a landmark judgment, the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) policy of prohibiting female corps members from wearing skirts as unconstitutional. Justice Hauwa Yilwa, in a ruling delivered on June 13, 2025, found that the policy infringes upon the constitutionally protected rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.

The ruling came in response to suits filed by two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who argued that the mandatory trousers conflicted with their Christian beliefs, citing Deuteronomy 22:5. The court granted all reliefs sought by the applicants, affirming that the NYSC’s refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional.

Justice Yilwa mandated the NYSC to recognize and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections and directed the agency to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates. While the applicants sought N10 million each in damages, the court awarded N500,000 each, deeming it adequate compensation for the “harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation” suffered. The court’s decision underscores the importance of religious freedom within the NYSC program.