The Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative (HRAI) has urged the Federal Government to guarantee the constitutional rights of Muslim female corps members by accommodating the hijab and appropriate Muslim dress code in the proposed redesign of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform.
The call comes amid reports that the FG is considering replacing the traditional NYSC khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric as part of the scheme’s ongoing reforms.
Although the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that no final decision has been taken on the proposed design, HRAI said the ongoing consultation process presents a timely opportunity to incorporate safeguards that respect the religious rights of Muslim women.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Hajia Mutiat Orolu Balogun, on Saturday, the organisation said the proposed reform presents a unique opportunity to establish a more inclusive and equitable NYSC scheme that reflects Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity.
HRAI commended the Federal Government’s efforts to reform the NYSC but stressed that the exercise should go beyond redesigning uniforms to providing clear institutional safeguards that protect the rights, dignity and religious identity of Muslim women.
According to the organisation, accommodating the hijab in the new uniform is only one aspect of the reforms. It said the Federal Government must also guarantee that Muslim female corps members are allowed to wear the hijab and skirts throughout orientation camp activities and their service year without intimidation, discrimination or arbitrary restrictions.
“The protection of religious freedom requires more than an inclusive uniform. It also requires clear implementation guidelines, effective enforcement and accountability mechanisms that ensure Muslim women can observe their faith without fear of harassment or exclusion,” the statement said.
HRAI urged the NYSC Directorate to issue clear operational guidelines to all orientation camps and state secretariats affirming the right of Muslim female corps members to wear the hijab during registration, parade, official engagements, photographs and other authorised activities where safety requirements permit.
The organisation also called for regular sensitisation of camp officials and other NYSC personnel on constitutional rights, religious accommodation and respectful engagement with corps members of different faiths to prevent avoidable conflicts.
It further recommended that the redesigned hijab should match the official NYSC uniform in colour and appearance while meeting acceptable standards of modesty, comfort and safety during camp activities.
HRAI also advocated the establishment of a transparent complaints and redress mechanism through which corps members who experience discrimination, harassment or denial of their religious rights can seek timely intervention without fear of victimisation.
The organisation emphasised that wearing the hijab should never affect a corps member’s access to leadership opportunities, camp responsibilities, awards, postings or any other benefits associated with the national service programme, as is the present case where many face exclusion or the outright denial to partake in the NYSC scheme.
While welcoming ongoing consultations on the NYSC reforms, HRAI urged the Federal Government to engage recognised Muslim women’s organisations, constitutional lawyers, human rights advocates and other relevant stakeholders before approving the final uniform design.
The group maintained that meaningful consultation would produce a policy that respects Nigeria’s diversity while strengthening national unity.
“Hijab is a constitutionally protected expression of religious belief for millions of Muslim women. Respecting that right does not diminish national unity; rather, it reinforces the principles of equality, inclusion and justice upon which our democracy is built.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government to ensure that the new NYSC uniform accommodates the hijab and that every Muslim female corps member is guaranteed the freedom to wear it throughout her national service without discrimination, harassment or exclusion,” the statement added.
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