The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for expelling two female corps members who refused to wear trousers or shorts.
Concise News understands that the scheme expelled Okafor Love Obianuju and Odji Oritsetsolaye from the 2019 Batch C Stream 1 in Ebonyi camp on Saturday.
Reacting to the expulsion, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Rev. Adebayo Oladeji, said the NYSC should be more tolerant when it comes to religious matters.
Oladeji said the two ladies should not be victimised for holding on to their faith, adding that the fundamental rights of the people as regards religion must be respected.
He noted that the Nigerian Law School denied Firdausa Al Jannah Amasa from being called to Bar in 2017 because she refused to remove her hijab, but the institution had since retraced its steps.
Olajide advised the affected corps members to go to court and challenge their expulsion by the scheme.
He said: “We advise the victims of the injustice to go to court and challenge their expulsion by the NYSC. The fundamental rights of the people as regards religion must be respected.
“And that is why, a few months ago, when some Muslim women were protesting over the wearing of hijab at the Law School, we refused to speak against it because it is their right and thank God, they won it.
“We are appealing to the leadership of the NYSC to revisit the matter.
“In this country, religious right is an inalienable right that must be respected. They must allow the people to practise their religion.
“If our government agencies have no regard for the way people worship God, then it means they are satanic. Any system that does not respect religion is satanic.”
