Controversy has erupted over the alleged plan by the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, to phase out all non-science and non-technology-related faculties and programmes from the institution.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the Bauchi State Citizens Forum, comprising professors, lawyers, and activists, rejected the plan, describing it as a “regression” and a “bad omen” for the university.
The group’s leader, Dr. Abdullahi Yelwa, said a recent meeting between the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the university management confirmed the plan.
“It is glaring that the thinking of ATBU’s leadership is to have faculties like Management Sciences closed, thereby denying thousands of prospective students — many of whom are from Bauchi State — the opportunity to attain university education,” Yelwa stated.
However, the university has denied that the decision originated from its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Garba.
In a statement, the institution’s Director of Information, Mr. Zailani Bappa, clarified that no vice-chancellor has the power to make such a decision unilaterally, stressing that the directive came from the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He explained that last month, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, met with council chairmen of all federal universities and directed them to ensure that each university adheres strictly to its founding mandate.
“Technology universities must stick to technology courses, universities of agriculture must focus on agriculture, and so on. This is what the Federal Government has directed. It is completely misplaced for anyone to claim that the ATBU VC is acting against the university or the good people of Bauchi State. This is a federal government initiative,” Bappa said.
He further dismissed allegations that the institution’s distance learning programme was being undermined, saying it is also being restructured in line with federal government policy and was set to commence as planned.
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