FG, Not VC, Responsible For Scrapping Non-science, Non Technology Courses – ATBU Management

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa , University, ATBU, Bauchi, have maintained  that its policies are strictly guided by the extant laws establishing the institution.

They informed that the decision to restrict the University to the offering of only those courses stipulated by  the laws establishing it, is in line with a Federal Government  directive.

The Source reports that there has been tension within the host community of the institution over alleged plans by the University Management to scrap non-science and technology courses from the institution’s programmes of study.

The host community stakeholders, under the aegis of Bauchi State Concerned Citizens, had on Monday, September 15, 2025, raised concerns about the university authorities’ moves to  stop offering courses outside science and technology, noting that the policy, if implemented, will negatively affect the future of the people, particularly its youth.

The Concerned Citizens expressed fears that the planned scrapping of management courses has the potential of adversely affecting many people in the State, including the youths.

The  stakeholders accused the Management of the University, led by Professor Ibrahim Hassan, of leading the move to scrap non-science and technology courses.

But at a media briefing in Bauchi, the University’s spokesperson, Zailani Bappa, described the group’s allegations that  the Vice Chancellor is planning to close down some Faculties and Academic Departments as unfounded, unsubstantiated and totally misleading.

According to him, the Vice Chancellor is neither planning to scrap any Faculties nor discontinue any programmes as being speculated in some quarters.

“There are basically two issues in the text of the press conference by the Bauchi State Concerned Citizens. None of the allegations is true because the Vice Chancellor did not do any such things.

“The fact is that recently, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, invited all Vice Chancellors and Chairpersons of the Governing Councils of Federal Universities and informed them that the Federal Government has taken a decision that all universities should revert to the original mandate of their establishment.

“ATBU, as you all know, was established as technology based University and it was along the line that other management education courses were introduced.

“But now, the Federal Government wants the status quo maintained. It was not the Vice Chancellor that came up with the idea, but the owners of the institution. So, in this case, it will be completely unfair to be accusing the Vice Chancellor and Management of planning to scrap Faculties and Academic Departments” Bappa stated.

Further speaking, the University’s spokesperson noted that it was as a result of the Federal Government’s directives that the Management decided to halt funding for the institution’s Distance Learning Directorate.

According to him, it will amount to wasting scarce resources for the university authorities to continue funding the Distance Learning Programmes in the face of the Federal Government’s directives.

Bappa, therefore, urged the Concerned Citizens, as well as other stakeholders in the state to align with the Senator representing Bauchi South District at the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, in his efforts at amending the law establishing the institution to accommodate other courses outside science and technology.

“Unless the law establishing the University is amended and tailored along that of a conventional institution, there is nothing anybody can do to stop the ongoing reversion to the status quo”, Bappa stated.