Tension rises as ATBU unveils plan to scrap Non-Science faculties

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Tension is rising at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, following claims that the institution is preparing to phase out all non-science and non-technology-related faculties and programmes.

The Bauchi State Citizens Forum — a coalition of professors, lawyers, and activists — strongly opposed the move at a press conference on Tuesday, describing it as backward and harmful to the university’s development.

The forum’s leader, Dr. Abdullahi Yelwa, said discussions between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and ATBU 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 said

In response, the university distanced itself from the decision, insisting it did not originate from Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Garba.

The institution’s Director of Information, Mr. Zailani Bappa, explained in a statement that such decisions are beyond the powers of any vice-chancellor. He clarified: “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 further assured that the university’s distance learning programme was not being abandoned. “It is also being restructured in line with federal government policy and is set to commence as planned,” he said

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post