Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called for the scrapping of several major government agencies, arguing that they no longer serve the interests of Nigerians.
Among the institutions he listed for dissolution are the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He described these bodies as outdated, ineffective, and burdensome to the public.
Sowore’s remarks came in the wake of JAMB’s recent admission of technical failures that disrupted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Over 1.9 million candidates registered for the exam, but issues at more than 150 centers in Lagos, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states hindered the performance of thousands.
During a press briefing in Abuja, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede acknowledged the setbacks, noting that approximately 370,000 candidates were affected by system failures.
“What should have been a moment of success turned sour due to a few errors,” Oloyede admitted.
Reacting to this, Sowore said the examination board’s shortcomings reflect a larger pattern of government inefficiency. He argued that agencies such as JAMB and NYSC have strayed far from their original goals and should be dissolved to pave the way for more accountable and impactful alternatives.
He also criticized TETFund and NELFUND, saying these bodies fail to adequately support students or improve the education sector as intended.
According to Sowore, meaningful reform must begin with dismantling institutions that no longer deliver real value to Nigerians.
He urged the federal government to consider overhauling the existing structure of public service and focus on policies that truly benefit citizens.