Author: Supers Staff

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must allow female corps members to wear skirts in line with their religious beliefs, declaring the agency’s trousers-only policy unconstitutional.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa, who delivered the judgement on June 13, 2025, held that enforcing trousers as the only acceptable uniform for female corps members violates their fundamental rights, particularly the right to freedom of religion and human dignity, as stated in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The court’s decision came after two former corps members, Miss Ogunjobi Blessing and Miss Ayuba Vivian, filed separate suits that were later consolidated due to their similar legal arguments.

The applicants challenged the NYSC’s uniform policy, which required all female participants to wear trousers, arguing that it violated their Christian faith and cited Deuteronomy 22:5, which they interpret as forbidding women from wearing clothing associated with men.

They sought the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the refusal of the NYSC to recognise and allow skirts as part of the NYSC uniform constitutes a breach of the applicant’s right under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Deuteronomy 22:5 of the Bible, and a misinterpretation of Schedule 2, Article 1(I)(a) of the NYSC Bye-Laws 1993.”

“A declaration that the use of skirts by the applicant in the NYSC scheme forms part of her fundamental rights to freedom of religion and to manifest the same in practice and observance as provided for in Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

“A declaration that the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation suffered by the applicant at the hands of NYSC officials constitute a clear infringement of her rights to freedom of religion and to manifest same in practice, as well as the right to human dignity and protection from degrading treatment.”

“An order compelling the respondents, their servants, agents, privies, or anyone acting on their behalf, to recognise, allow, and provide skirts for the applicant or any female corps member wishing to wear same in accordance with Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Deuteronomy 22:5.”

In the consolidated suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/989/2020 and FHC/ABJ/CS/988/2020, the NYSC and its Director-General were listed as respondents.

The applicants also asked for:

“A declaration that the refusal to allow skirts for religious purposes is unconstitutional.”

“An order mandating the NYSC to recognise and permit the use of skirts for female corps members with genuine religious objections.”

“A directive compelling the NYSC to recall the affected former corps members and issue their certificates accordingly,” the court stated.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by the applicants, including a declaration that the refusal to allow skirts amounted to a breach of their constitutional rights and a directive that the NYSC must recognise skirts as an acceptable part of the uniform for any female corps member with religious objections.

Justice Yilwa also ruled that the affected former corps members be recalled and issued their NYSC certificates.

Additionally, the court awarded ₦500,000 in damages to each applicant for the harassment, embarrassment, and humiliation they endured.

Although the applicants had sought ₦10 million in compensation, the judge deemed the ₦500,000 award adequate in the circumstances.

Famous human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has faulted the Lagos State government for renaming streets and landmarks without engaging the public, describing the action as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Falana’s reaction comes in light of recent developments in the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), where former chairman Kolade Alabi renamed two roads in honour of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He also replaced the well-known “Charly Boy Bus Stop” on Gbagada–Bariga Road with “Baddo Bus Stop.”

In addition, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, recently renamed two streets after the late Herbert Wigwe and President Tinubu.

Falana, however, maintained that only local governments have the constitutional authority to name or rename streets, citing the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Quoting a previous court decision, Falana referenced Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council & 2 Ors, where Justice Edward Okpe of the FCT High Court ruled that only the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) had the legal right to assign names to streets within the capital.

“The same principle applies across Nigeria,” Falana stated. “The functions of local councils cannot be hijacked by individuals or LCDA officials acting without legal backing.”

The human rights lawyer was particularly critical of the renaming of Charly Boy Bus Stop, noting that it was not an official designation by authorities but rather a name given by residents of Bariga and Gbagada in recognition of Charly Boy’s cultural contributions.

According to Falana, such community-based names carry sociological weight and should not be discarded without proper consultation.

“Changing that name without public input is not only highhanded but shows a disregard for the values and sentiments of the people who named it,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as a pattern of removing names of respected Nigerians while leaving behind those of colonial figures with questionable reputations.

“It is ironic that streets bearing names of colonial oppressors remain untouched, while figures who have positively impacted the society are being sidelined,” he added.

Falana called on local government councils to uphold due process by involving citizens in decisions that affect their communities.

He recommended that public hearings be conducted before any road or street is renamed.

“Street names should not be changed to satisfy political interests or fuel ethnic divisions, especially in a diverse city like Lagos,” he warned.

The United Kingdom UK government has officially halted the issuance of new Health and Care Worker visas for foreign care workers, effective July 22, 2025.

The move signals a major shift in immigration policy as part of broader efforts to cut down on migration, particularly in lower-wage sectors. The government says the change is aimed at boosting local employment and addressing widespread abuse of the visa sponsorship system.

According to a report by TravelBiz, the decision is designed to prioritise UK-based workers and tighten oversight of the visa pathway. However, critics say the abrupt end to foreign care recruitment may worsen ongoing staffing shortages already affecting the country’s overstretched social care sector.

Under the former policy, care workers classified under SOC Code 6145 were listed on the UK’s Shortage Occupation List. This granted them access to reduced visa fees, lower salary thresholds, and expedited processing. All of those benefits have now been scrapped.

Existing visa holders will still be able to complete their current term, but opportunities for renewal or switching to another care-related visa may no longer be available. No new overseas applicants will be accepted under this category moving forward.

Nigerian woman has emotionally narrated how she temporarily lost her eyesight while pregnant and eventually lost her baby due to what she describes as hospital negligence.

The story was shared on TikTok by the woman identified as @mrs.temishe, who detailed the traumatic experience during her third pregnancy.

She explained that her condition could have been managed if medical professionals had acted quickly, blaming the delay on negligence and lack of proper facilities.

According to her, the ordeal began with severe migraines and facial discomfort, which gradually worsened.

“I was pregnant with my third child and was admitted for very high blood sugar. I started experiencing intense migraine on the right side of my head and eye. They referred me to an eye hospital. Eventually, I lost my sense of smell and couldn’t perceive anything,” she recounted.

She described being scheduled for surgery and was shocked by what she saw in the operating room.

“I entered the theatre and the first thing I saw was a generator. That was when I knew things were really bad,” she said.

After the surgery, she was discharged, but complications followed. She began bleeding at home and was rushed back to the hospital where she had initially conceived.

There, she received devastating news—her baby no longer had a heartbeat.

She also mentioned that the condition that led to her temporary blindness was hormone-related and could happen to any pregnant woman if left unchecked.

As the video circulated online, many Nigerians took to the comment section to express sympathy and frustration over the poor state of healthcare in the country.

See some reactions below: 

Bannie___🐈‍⬛♋️: “Am I the only one that is scared of marriage and pregnancy?”

Melody: “Wait you can loose your sight too😫😫😫😫 Jesus ehhhh.”

Abimzmama💃🏻: “Hearing that you lost the child after all this made me sad. I’m so sorry😔.”

Beatrice O: “my pregnancy change my voice. I now talk like a man. deep voice.”

Underrated….BaBe🎀❤️: “Abeg where is the girl with the list again??😭😭😭💔.”

Coco’s Lifestyle🌸: “Lemme go and cancel that prayer request for twins that I wanted😭😭.”

@mrs.temishe

#fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #pregnancy #pregnancy #childloss#pregnancystory#fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp

♬ Spirit Lead Me – Piano Version – Clavier

The Emir of Gusau, His Royal Highness Dr. Ibrahim Bello, died on Friday at the age of 71 in Abuja following a protracted illness.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, confirmed the monarch’s death in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris Bala.

The governor extended his condolences to the people of Zamfara State and described the loss as deeply personal.

“I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of our father, His Royal Highness, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, the Emir of Gusau. His Highness’s passing is a huge loss for the people of Zamfara State, as well as for the North and Nigeria as a whole,” Lawal said.

Governor Lawal praised the Emir’s leadership and legacy, noting that he was a supportive royal father and a capable leader who dedicated himself to the development of the state.

The late Emir was enthroned as the 15th Emir of Gusau on March 16, 2015, and spent the last decade of his life serving the people with dedication, commitment, and strong faith. Before ascending the throne, Dr. Bello had a distinguished career in public service, rising to the rank of Permanent Secretary in the old Sokoto and Zamfara States.

“I have lost a confidant and a father whose wisdom guides me and other state leaders. May the Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah,” the governor added.

The Federal Government (FG) has now officially set 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) across Nigeria.

This new directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, was detailed in a recently launched policy document focused on Non-State Schools.

According to the policy, students must complete six full years of primary education before transitioning to JSS1, aligning with the government’s structured nine-year basic education model.

This model includes six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary school.

The guideline outlines a clear progression: children are to start Nursery One at age three, Nursery Two at four, and Kindergarten at five.

Primary education begins at age six, with students expected to enter JSS1 around age twelve.

The policy document states:
“Nursery education shall be of three years’ duration. Children shall be admitted into Nursery One when they attain the age of three years, Nursery Two on attaining the age of four, and one year of compulsory pre-primary education (Kindergarten) on attaining the age of five years, in accordance with the specification of Section 2(17) of the NPE, 2013 Edition.”

It further explains:
“Basic education shall be of nine years’ duration. There shall be a six-year primary and a three-year Junior Secondary School (JSS). Children shall be admitted into Primary One when they attain the age of six years. Every child must complete six years of primary education. They shall be admitted into Junior Secondary School (JSS1) when they have completed six (6) years of primary education, at around the age of twelve (12) years.”

The new age requirement is reportedly aimed  at ensuring age-appropriate learning progression and to standardize educational entry points nationwide.

The document also shed light on the expanding role of private education in Nigeria.

Non-state schools—often referred to as private, independent, or non-government schools—now outnumber state-owned schools in junior secondary levels across at least 26 states of the country.

“Non-state schools outnumber state schools in at least 26 states of the federation at the Junior Secondary level, whereas at the primary level, state schools outnumber non-state schools in 19 states of the federation.

Data from the Nigeria Education Digest 2022 reveals that non-state junior secondary schools grew by 35.06% between 2017 and 2022, compared to a 6.8% growth rate in state-owned schools during the same period.

Similarly, private primary schools grew by over 31%, while public primary schools saw just a 3.3% increase.

“The growth in the number of non-state schools between 2017 and 2022 (the last five years reported) has been faster than that of state schools. Non-state primary schools grew in number by 31.56 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 3.3 per cent within the same period. At the Junior Secondary level, non-state schools grew in number by 35.06 per cent between 2017 and 2022, while state schools grew in number by 6.8 per cent only within the same period.”

The age requirement adjustment also supports the earlier policy stance of 18 years as the ideal university entry age, although current Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa recently revised the university admission age back to 16 years.