‘They said it’s against their faith’ — NYSC sacks two female corps members for refusing to wear trousers

The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Ebonyi state says it has sent two corps members away from its orientation camp for refusing to wear trousers given to them by the scheme.

Ngozi Ukwuoma, the state NYSC spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.

The two corps members dismissed from the ongoing 3-week orientation course for the 2019 Batch C Stream 1 are Okafor Love Obianuju (EB/19C/0523) and Odji Oritsetsolaye (EB/19C/0530).

According to the statement, their dismissal from camp followed their refusal to wear the mandated trousers given to them by the scheme.

The spokesperson explained that they were seen by Isu Josephine, the camp director, wearing white T-shirts and skirts during an inspection —which contradicts the scheme’s code of dressing in camp.

Ukwuoma said when the two corps members were queried for not putting on the stipulated dressing code, they stated such was “against their faith.”

“When they were accosted and interrogated, they disclosed that they could not wear the white shorts and the trousers given to them by the NYSC since it was against their faith,” the statement read.

“Efforts were, however, made by the office of the Camp Director to make them see reason why they must obey the rules and regulations guiding the orientation and NYSC, but all efforts to do that proved futile”.

The statement added that sensing the two corps members were unwilling to renege their stance, the camp director had made an official complaint and were tried by a camp court which found them “guilty.”

“The corps members were queried and subsequently made to face the camp court, where they were found guilty, having made it categorically clear that they were ready to bear the consequences of their actions,” she said.

“They were de-kitted in the presence of security agents, who also escorted them to the gate as they left the camp”.