ATBU refutes plans to scrap non-science related programmes

By Ahmed Ahmed

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has dismissed as misleading reports insinuating plans by the management to phase out non-science and technology related programmes.

Malam Zailani Bappa, Director, Information and Public Relations, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Bauchi.

He highlighted that vice-chancellors has no authority to unilaterally take such decisions, adding that the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC), directed the action as part of a nationwide restructuring of universities.

Bappa said the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a meeting held in August, instructed council chairmen of all federal universities, to ensure strict compliance with their founding mandates.

“Technology universities must stick to technology courses while 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 V-C is acting against the university or the good people of Bauchi State,” he said.

He also dismissed alleged undermining of the ATBU’s distance learning programme, stressing that it’s been restructured in line with the new policy, and would continue operations as scheduled.

While calling for calm, Bappa said the move was a federal government initiative aimed at strengthening the core mandates of Nigerian universities, and not an action targeted at Bauchi State or ATBU’s growth.