I will abolish JAMB, scrap NYSC if elected President — Sowore

By Precious Mark

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has pledged to abolish the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and dismantle the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) if he wins the 2027 presidential elections.

The human rights activist and media entrepreneur made this declaration in a bold policy statement outlining his vision for the country’s youth, arguing that Nigerian graduates are heavily constrained by unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks and mandatory schemes that do not guarantee economic survival.

Regarding tertiary education, Sowore stated that the centralized examination body has become an unnecessary layer of administration that creates friction for prospective students.

He maintained that individual universities and polytechnics should be granted full autonomy to oversee their own intake processes.

“Admission into tertiary institutions should be determined by the institutions themselves under a transparent, merit-based system, not by another layer of bureaucracy,” Sowore stated.

Addressing the mandatory youth service scheme, the AAC flagbearer noted that the NYSC has failed to address the pressing modern needs of Nigerian graduates.

He proposed a complete overhaul of the program, stating that the scheme, in its current form, will be scrapped under his administration to give way to an economically viable alternative.

In place of the decades-old paramilitary program, Sowore promised to introduce a two-year, voluntary National Job Corps.

He explained that this proposed initiative would focus strictly on economic empowerment by ensuring that participants gain meaningful employment, practical skills, entrepreneurship support, and pathways into permanent careers.

He is also of the opinion that the focus of any progressive government should be human capital development and economic liberation rather than enforcing old, compulsory structures.

He added that Nigeria’s young people do not need more compulsory schemes, but rather require jobs, opportunities, and the complete freedom to choose their own future paths.