Omoyele Sowore, activist and presidential aspirant of the African Action Congress (AAC), has declared that he will scrap the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) if elected President of Nigeria in 2027.
Sowore made the bold promise while addressing supporters, arguing that both institutions have outlived their usefulness and are no longer serving the best interests of Nigerian youths and the education sector.
He criticised JAMB as an inefficient and corrupt examination body that constitutes a major bottleneck for young Nigerians seeking admission into tertiary institutions. According to him, the board should be replaced with a more transparent, technology-driven admission process that eliminates bottlenecks and malpractice.
On NYSC, Sowore described the scheme as outdated, risky, and largely irrelevant in its current form. He cited the increasing insecurity across the country, which makes it dangerous for corps members to be deployed to certain areas. He believes the programme should be replaced with more productive youth development and skill acquisition initiatives.
The activist-turned-politician has consistently positioned himself as a radical reformer willing to dismantle long-standing institutions he considers impediments to progress. His latest comments have sparked intense debate on social media, with many young Nigerians supporting the idea while others argue that scrapping both institutions outright could have unintended consequences.
Supporters of Sowore praised him for his willingness to challenge the status quo and address systemic inefficiencies. However, critics accused him of making populist statements without providing clear alternatives. Some stakeholders expressed concern about the potential loss of national cohesion that NYSC is meant to promote, while others questioned how the admission process into universities would be managed without JAMB. The reactions reflect the deep frustrations many Nigerians have with government institutions perceived as inefficient, corrupt, or burdensome.
Both JAMB and NYSC were established decades ago with noble objectives. JAMB was created to regulate admissions into tertiary institutions, while NYSC was designed to promote national unity after the civil war. However, over the years, both have faced persistent criticism regarding corruption, poor administration, and relevance in a changing Nigeria.
As the 2027 presidential election cycle gains momentum, Sowore’s promise adds to the growing list of radical policy proposals from opposition figures seeking to differentiate themselves from the ruling party.
Omoyele Sowore continues to advocate for sweeping reforms across multiple sectors. Whether his pledge to scrap JAMB and NYSC gains wider traction remains to be seen as political conversations intensify ahead of the next general elections.
