The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) refusal to permit female corps members to wear skirts is unconstitutional and infringes on the right to freedom of religion.
In a judgment delivered recently, Justice Hauwa Yilwa held that enforcing trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female corps members violates their constitutionally protected rights to freedom of religion and human dignity.
The consolidated suits were brought by two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, who argued that being compelled to wear trousers conflicted with their Christian beliefs.
Citing Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as forbidding women from wearing male clothing, the applicants maintained that NYSC’s uniform policy breached their religious convictions.
Justice Yilwa held that NYSC’s insistence on trousers violated the applicants’ constitutional rights and subjected them to degrading treatment.
She granted all the reliefs sought, including a declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional.
The court further ruled that the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation ”suffered by the applicants amounted to a blatant infringement of their fundamental rights.
While the applicants requested N10 million in compensation, the court awarded N500,000 each, considering it adequate under the circumstances.
Justice Yilwa concluded that barring the applicants from completing their national service due to their attire constituted religious discrimination.
