Let’s Discuss: Corps Member Expelled From NYSC Camp For Refusing To Wear Trousers; Who Is To Blame?

corps members

Vanguard recently reported the expulsion of a female corps member from the Ogun State NYSC orientation camp. Read the report below:

Reactions have started trailing the decamping of 2013 Batch A, female corps member, Ms Tolu Ekundayo, by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Ogun State for wearing skirt at the Shagamu orientation camp.

In a press conference organised by Ekundayo’s church, Faith Revival Apostolic Church, FRAC, in Lagos, the expelled corps member said she was asked to leave the camp at about 11.00pm on March 8, 2013 by the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, for her refusal to put on trousers.

She explained that her refusal to wear trousers was not in disobedience to NYSC authorities but in line with her belief and faith in God.

Also speaking, Apostle Paul Adenuga condemned the manner in which Ekundayo was expelled from the camp in the dead of the night without considering her safety and called on the Director-General of NYSC and the federal government to look into the matter before it gets out of hand.

“I call on Nigerians, mostly Christians that stand for the truth, not only to jointly condemn this barbaric and bestial act but to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerned authority for the change of such policy if it is official.”

NYSC reacts
When contacted, the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs T.I Anosike maintained that the Service did not expel anybody. According to her, Ms Ekundayo opted to go instead of abiding by the rules and regulations of the scheme.

She said wearing anything outside approved NYSC kits during the orientation programme was not allowed in the camp. This she said was the reason why every corps member was made to signed undertaking on cultism and dress code.

“Nobody asked her to leave. She was asked to comply with the NYSC directives or leave. So she decided to leave. When she said that she won’t comply, we asked her to put it in writing which she did. So we didn’t expel her, she left on her own.”

My take on this: The only blame NYSC had was sending the girl out of the camp at night, if there’s any truth in that. But I put the rest of the blame on the girl. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen skirt in an NYSC outfit. There is a dress code and she knows that too. She knew before going to the NYSC camp that everyone was going to be putting on trousers. Why did she think she was going to be treated differently?

NYSC doesn’t need to apologize, save for expelling her late at night. Religion does not teach rebellion. You should submit to authorities; this is what I know every religion teaches.

Do you think she was right to insist on wearing skirt?

47 COMMENTS

  1. She is a stupid gurl……I guess she is nt d only born again Christian in dat camp…..even her so called church must hv so many graduates as her members….Dats d rules once u enta d camp ground,u must abide to 2 it..

    • Do u read ur bible 2 undastand wot u ar reading.listen,there ar biblical standard & worldly standard.nysc is operatin on worldly standard wc she can’t conform 2.if hevun is ur focus u wil abide doing God’s will & followin His ways.learn Godly principles & follow dem diligently.

  2. The girl did not apply wisdom,no wonder bible say my people perish for lack of wisdom. God is God of order and je asked us to obey d authority. The bible say we should obey d rules of d land. Why did she go there in d first place since she knew the code of dress there violates her religious belief? I think she shud be caned. The only place nysc was at fault was dat they wouldn’t av allowed her to leave d camp at dat dead hour even if she decided to leave on her own. They would av considered her safety first. Some people doctrine ahead of Christianity. May God bless our wisdom o.

  3. If its gonna b like dat ,is hijab part of d NYSC kit? So hw come muslim ladies wear it on camp? She wld hav been made t change her trousers t skirt…afterall muslim ladies wear long trousers in camp which is not d short ones they giv in camp.

    • Thats a good talk mulikat i love muslims like you who would tell the truth no matter what i quite agree with you and i stand by your comment that was exactly what i could have written or commented she could have been asked to change it to skirt.If a muslim is maltreated i will defend her any day that is what truth and justice stand for and that is the spirit of a new nigeria.

  4. The lady is really wrong and i don’t want to believe the trousers used by Corpers is a sin, cos it is not revealing as even Muslim ladies do use it. I have served and i am talking of what i know, cos that lady may be disrespectful. People must learn to have respect for constituted authorities at all times. The dresses used by Corpers is acceptable.

  5. She is the biggest fool i have ever since and nysc should not apologise to anyone. She decided to leave at that time because she feels she can take care of herself after all she is above 18 so she not a kid.

  6. She must be out of her mind, even if she is a born again Christian bible says gives wht belong to sizar to sizar nd wht belongs to God to God th4 I see no reasons y she should not comply with NYSC rules nd regulations.

  7. The whole story is still one sided because,the girls version has not been heard.On the other hand i strongly condemn the dressing code enforcement act,she has a right to her religious belief cos i am a witness to skirt wearing by female corps members some years ago.

  8. The story is still one sided because,we are yet to hear the girls version.But on the other hand i strongly condemn the scheme’s act,because she has the right to her religious belief and i have equally witness orientation camp where the females wear skirts

    • elpat or what soever u call urself,i think u should keep ur mouth quiet if u dont know what to say on this issue,is she the only christian on earth?are my not or are u not one,before her father was born,this so call NYSC programm has been in existence, not to talk of before she got admission,she must have been hearing of nysc and their dress code,a programme designed and approved by the federal republic of nigeria in general, then suddenly a lady woke up out of her stupid unreasonable personal religion believe ,and decided to change their rules and regulation in just a twinkling of an eye, Infact she just messed up herself,she showed it live to the whole world that she is someone who is having no home training,so think very well before u talk.give unto ceaser wat is of ceaser and give unto God what is of God.

    • @Robert i can see that you lack insight,i made my opinion based on experience & you revert to insult.i guess you need a proper moral training on social ethics.Is it because she is a christian,what about female muslims that ties their shota around their heads and still wears nysc cap on top of it,how many of them has nysc thrown out or is that nysc dressing code.if you want to give ceaser his potion and God his own then do it rational,cos the same bible tells us to do unto others what we wish they do to us,do it to all and stop being bias that is my point.

  9. elpat and isreal,God bles u 4dat,everybody is free to express his/her own opinion.i wonda y sum rude and untrained people shud b insultin odas.i wil respect God rather dan men.Go girl stick 2ur belief,and liv d worldly people to talk

  10. I never knew that nysc has become a worldly thing,no wonder bible says my people lack wisdom. When bible says women shud not wear what belong to men vice versa nothing like trousers den. Bible tells us to obey d rules of d land. I can see why some people don’t go far in life because of doctrine. I sorry for some people.

  11. U all have said base on ur understanding but we must give reference to god who made humanity that give instruction to all creatures that what is made 4 men women should have pleasure on them is quiet unfortunate that de devil have misuse our senses and we have become the devil working tools why? Trouser was made 4 men as well as skirt is made 4 women why are we decided to disobey god our creator, if that happen 2 any of u sister u may tink to react wit NYSC authorities but let not 4get that the way u believe may not be the way another believe so let us not let any stone untorn let the NYSC authorities know that there different classes of people in dis world. Therefore i will advice the authorities to also produce both trousers and skirt incase of dis matter may occure again. Secondly i also not blame the NYSC becos the purpose of that trouser is so that they can be able to undergoes the three weeks orientation training

  12. It takes PERSONAL CONVICTION to have taken such a stand. Test of faith in most cases is not more than that. But unfortunately, so many so called xtians have so made a cheap wreck and now it looks like the girl is foolish. For me, I salute your courage.

    She is a strong and determined born again christian. She is not like others who try to bend the rules in d name of wisdom. That is not wisdom, it is denial of ur faith and principle. Many who expected her to ‘use wisdom’ would definitely afford to do anything to achieve somethings.

    God bless u, that girl. Keep standing for the faith of our fathers.

    My view is that, as a corp member-to-be, try simply enter the market, buy karki, make a skirt and collect the NYSC trousers.

    Wear the skirt always but wear the trousers if u are in an environment filled with mosquito, wear it if u want to do drills: climbing trees, ropes, etc.

    If muslims can wear ijahb, abeg wear ur skirts. You may need the trouser at nights to make rape more difficult.

    See, many of those girls are happy to be offered trousers in the name of Nysc cos they have longed for that chance but their parents and fellowships have kept them in check since.

    For the girl, she has been tested, and she passed. What of u?

  13. abeg o, make una helep me answer dis. religion or not, if she is a military officer, would she wear skirts? is skirts suitable and comfortable for and during exercises in d nysc cam”p? is there no difference btw nysc and worldly trousers? when she KNEW nysc wear trousers, why did she go there???

  14. Mr elpart and Israel, everyone has a right to his/her belief and she chose not to serve her country but I know that Nigerians tend to be hypocritical about their actions. People like this tend to be shun their beliefs in situations that favours them. Just speaking my mind.

  15. FAILURE TO WEAR TROUSERS HAS NOT BROKEN ANY LAW IN OUR COUNTRY. CONSTITUTIONALLY, SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP THE WAY SHE WANTS AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN WEARING SHIRT AT THE CAMP. I THINK SHE IS BEEN PUNISHED UNJUSTLY. THEREFORE THEY SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO HER AND LET HER CONTINUE WITH HER SERVICE.

  16. She knows what NYSC entails wearing trousers before she completed her education. Also, she is not the only christian to have served since the inception of NYSC and bible teaches us to obey authorities. Moreover, our heart speaks volume of what we before God.Let her rethink.

  17. The whole story is still one sided because,the girls version has not beenheard.On the other hand istrongly condemn the dressing code enforcement act,she has a right to her religious belief cos i am a witness to skirt wearing by female corps members some years ago.

  18. @Robert i can see that you lack insight,i made my opinion based on experience & you revert to insult.i guess you need a proper moral training on social ethics.Is it because she is a christian,what about female muslims that ties their shota around their heads and still wears nysc cap on top of it,how many of them has nysc thrown out or is that nysc dressing code.if you want to give ceaser his potion and God his own then do it rational,cos the same bible tells us to do unto others what we wish they do to us,do it to all and stop being bias that is my point.

  19. @Robert i can see that you lack insight,i made my opinion based on experience & you revert to insult.i guess you need a proper moral training on social ethics.Is it because she is a christian,what about female muslims that ties their shota around their heads and still wears nysc cap on top of it,how many of them has nysc thrown out or is that nysc dressing code.if you want to give ceaser his potion and God his own then do it rational,cos the same bible tells us to do unto others what we wish they do to us,do it to all and stop being bias that is my point.pls go and intimate yourself on nysc rules @robert in relation to nigeria constitution before talking anyhow

  20. Dis issue is so simple o,na d girl cause wahala for hersef in d first place,she shouldn’t have bothered to serve in d first place at all.she should have requested for an exemption certificate in d first place,cos she can’t abide by the Nysc.dat means the girl is telling the Nysc dat she is a saint o.she should quit then o.may God have mercy on we sinners o.

  21. they that know their God shall be strong and do exploit. if it is proper in your eyes judge this among you should we rather obey men rather than God? O i salute the frankness and sterness of this sister. it is a pitty today to hear or see christian deny Christ and His word just because worldly things. many christians go to church read bible just for the fun of it, such christains are generation of Judas who sold his Lord for 30 shekel of silver. the problem we have in the church today is secularism of the things of God. Daniel refused to obey the highest order of persia and medias in babylon that says no one should pray to any other God,the 3 Hebrew men in babylon refuse to bow for the image of King Nebucharnesari these men did so because they know that such a decree was against the KING OF KINGS and they damed the consequence but they were not disappointed by God. this sister is a generation of such men. NYSC IS NOT A GUARANTEE FOR JOB SECURITY,IT IS NOT A DETERMINANT FOR FORTUNE IN LIFE.

  22. many people are saying law of the land. law? where is that law? in a country like Nigeria where the law makers are the law breakers,where the law was made for the poor. i am sure if that lady happen to be one of the daughters of politician or Dangote NYSC WILL NEVER TRET HER LIKE THAT RATHER THEY WILL ALLOW HER TO DO WHATEVER SHE WANTED. WHEN COPPERS WERE KILL DURING ELECTION WHAT DID NYSC DO? CHRISTIENDOM! I FEAR FOR OUR LIP SERVICE FOR OUR FAITH. THEY DARE NOT DO IT TO MUSLIM SISTER LIKE THAT. I AM ASHAME OF MANY SO CALL CHRISTIANS WHO STAND FOR NOTHING,WHO CAN NOT DEFEND THEIR FAITH WITH THEIR LAST DROP OF BLOOD,OUR CHRISTIANITY TODAY IS WITHOUT SACRIFY AT ALL.

  23. Nigerians! Let everyone do so as to please God. As many that are directed by God, they are the sons of God. Religion, as Numerous importances in the develpment of the Nation. So, good christians ought not to wear Trousers. So, they ought to consider the Christians in this matter. As they do for Muslims.

  24. Neither the girl nor nysc authorities is at fault. The girl was firm in her sincere devotion and utmost undestanding in expression of her commitment to what she believed. It is not an issue of whether she is a good christian or not. Infect she could be a true believer with views of her faith in this manner base on her convictions. If she views it as compromise of her believe or faith profession to wear trouser and she violates her conscience, she could loose her peace. In earnest, I salute her courage in standing by her convictions. But know this also that nysc is not operating a standard that is anti GOd’s kingdom and as such, failure to comply with the laid rules should be accompanied with appropriate discipline. Some Games,gymnastics and other athletics can only be effectively and decently done with protection of nakedness when trousers are worn. I really want to plead with you all to apportion blame on the logical expulsion of the girl late at night considering the security factor of a Nigeria citizen or a valuable soul who could be at risk of any danger.

    My advice is that, the deal is done…she has paid the price for her faith conviction and her obedience should be complete so she can be rewarded for it on earth here by GOd and in the world to come.

    My advice to nysc officials, is to be considerate in dealing with citizens. Giving her an option of immediate compliance or immediate exit from the camp at that odd hour is not quite healthy but I honestly think, there is no point involving court case or rulings of any authorities. Nysc should make review if possible of atletic activities for those who wish not to wear trousers. Because serving the country is beyond 2weeks orientation camp of rugged activities.

    To government, if there can be no review in the wears, people should be warned not to go for the camp to avoid embarr
    My advice for all Christian students is that, it’s no sin to act in line with reasonable rules of any healthy vocation. But if your conviction bids you to go extra mile for the LOrd, obey…some are born eunuch, some are made eunuch but some could also devotionally make themselves eunuchs. It doesn’t make you better than any other believer who obediently followed the demand of constituted authority whom we believe to been placed by GOd to act with such governing power and right to act.

  25. If what I heard is correct, that this lady was sent parking by NYSC OFFICIALS just because she refused to go contrary to her faith. The officials should go and beg her to comeback and complete her assignment because they have no legal backing/ justification . The officials action is total violation of human right, freedom of worship and association. If there is any law in the NYSC preventing people from worshipping their God puisly such law should be repelled.
    To the lady, I encourage you to continue to serve your God. your action can be an eye opener. Your God will never foresack you . He was with shedrack, Mishrack and Abadenego.

  26. For those that praised the girl and those that cursed/insulted/blamed her, all are expressions of your opinion just as the girl’s action is an expression of her own opinion about her faith and way of life.

    But remeber that at the face of the draconic laws of the Medes and Persians that the selected people shuold strictly be given the king’s food, Daniel refused the defiled king’s food and opted for vegetables. THINK…

  27. The poor girl respect the all mighty for acting the way she did. The nysc should make a provision for the dress code both make and female dressing. In military there is skirt also in police,girls brigade also they under go all the trainings they suppose so that is not enough to send her away that late in the night.unless if there is what they demanded from her.because we are still hearing one sided story

  28. Ds is a very serious case. I peesonally belief d girl shuldnt hav bin allowed to leave d camp at dat time of the nite. The officials shuld be questioned cos once on camp one is in care of federal goverment. If any evil befell her wat wud they tell her parents. Heartless officers! Next , I feel there sud be provision for people to wear wat they like at nites . The girl sud hav at least endured since she is not the only christain and the camp is not forever, if it is a sin the sin is on the federal goverment that has made it compulsory and not on her. I feel she has to b more matured

  29. @oluvictor why are u contradicting ur she should not wear NYSC trousers. But she should wear it wen she wants 2 sleep becos of mosquitoes who are u fooling? She knows d laws and would have taken exemption letter instead of coming 2 camp 2 make herself an object of laughter. How will she do the exercises n drills wit skirits on. Abei oluvictor u & no wise?

  30. To start with, is she a virgin? If she wants to claim holier than thou altitude. since she knew very well she is not going to comply, she shld have skipped the programme. she is not the first nor will she be the last.