A Federal High Court in Abuja has made a big decision that supports female NYSC members who want to wear skirts instead of trousers because of their religion. The court ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow skirts if a corps member’s faith does not permit trousers.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa gave this judgment on June 13, 2025. She said the NYSC’s policy that forces women to wear trousers is against the 1999 Constitution. Specifically, it violates Section 38(1), which protects every Nigerian’s right to religious freedom and dignity.

Two women who had completed their NYSC—Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian—took the matter to court. They filed separate lawsuits, but the court joined both cases because they were very similar. They argued that their Christian faith, based on Deuteronomy 22:5 in the Bible, forbids women from wearing clothes meant for men, like trousers.

The court agreed with them and gave several rulings in their favour. First, it declared that NYSC’s refusal to allow skirts was a violation of their religious rights. Second, the court ordered NYSC to include the skirt option for female corps members who have genuine religious concerns.

Also, the court said that the two women should be recalled and given their NYSC discharge certificates. Each woman was also awarded ₦500,000 for the suffering they experienced during their service. Even though they asked for ₦10 million each, the court believed ₦500,000 was enough for what they went through.

This judgment is seen as a big step forward for religious freedom in Nigeria. Legal experts say it may lead to other similar court cases and encourage institutions to review their rules to respect people’s faith.

So far, the NYSC and its Director-General haven’t made any official statements about the court’s ruling.