ATBU Unions Rally Behind VC as Bauchi Citizens Forum Criticises Plan on Management Sciences Faculty

From Paul Orude Bauchi 

Two staff unions at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, have pledged support for the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Hassan Garba, amid criticisms by the Bauchi Citizens Forum over the planned restructuring of the Faculty of Management Sciences.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) expressed solidarity during separate visits to the Vice-Chancellor last week, commending his leadership and condemning what they described as “misdirected and damaging media attacks.”

This was contained in a press release signed by Zailani Bappa, Director Directorate of Information of ATBU made available to journalists on Wednesday.

According to the release, Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Sulisma Dauda Jatau, who led his executive members on Monday, September 22, lauded Prof. Garba’s commitment to financial prudence, due process, and welfare for both staff and students. 

Jatau said recent negative media campaigns against the Vice-Chancellor were unfortunate and harmful to the university’s reputation.

On his part, NASU Chairman, Comrade Yusuf D. Yusuf, who visited with his executives on Friday, September 19, said the controversy arose from a Federal Government directive, which was announced by the Pro-Chancellor but wrongly attributed to the Vice-Chancellor as his personal decision.

Background of the Controversy

The Bauchi Citizens Forum recently criticised Prof. Garba, accusing him of masterminding a plan to remove the Faculty of Management Sciences and close some programmes under the Faculty of Technology Education. 

The group took to the media, sparking widespread reactions and fuelling public suspicion.

However, the university management clarified that the restructuring was not initiated by Prof. Garba but was a policy directive of the Federal Government. Despite this clarification, the Citizens Forum maintained its opposition, a situation that prompted the two university unions to publicly align with the Vice-Chancellor.

VC’s Response

In his response, Prof. Garba thanked the unions for their support, describing their gesture as patriotic. 

The  VC explained that his administration had cleared one-third of the university’s inherited debt without fresh borrowing and was focused on strengthening both academic and welfare systems.

Among other interventions, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the refurbishment of five buses for student shuttle services, a 32-seater bus nearly ready for staff transportation, and the repair of six out of eleven grounded tractors to support campus farming at subsidised rates. 

Professor Hassan Garba also disclosed plans for a seamless promotion system to reduce delays in staff advancement.