Lawyers Give Bauchi Accountant-General 48 Hours to Restore Salaries of Two ATAP Lecturers

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Lawyers representing two lecturers of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi, have given the Bauchi State Accountant-General 48 hours to reverse the alleged illegal stoppage of their salaries and pay all outstanding entitlements.

In a demand letter dated July 13, 2026, and addressed to the Accountant-General, the solicitors accused the state government of unlawfully withholding the June 2026 salaries of Dr. Abdulmajid Jamal Abubakar (PSN No. 111441) and Dr. Musa Kallamu Hassan (PSN No. 111358).

The lawyers, Alkassim Muhammad Esq., H.I. Yashi Esq., and S.A. Balloko Esq., said both lecturers are still in active service with the Bauchi State Government and have neither been suspended nor found guilty of any misconduct that could justify the stoppage of their salaries.

According to the letter, the salaries were allegedly stopped following a variation order issued by the Registrar of ATAP and forwarded to the Office of the Accountant-General on the ground that the lecturers had instituted a court action against the polytechnic.

The legal team described the action as unconstitutional, arguing that seeking judicial redress is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and cannot be used as a basis for denying workers their salaries.

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The solicitors further alleged that the Accountant-General acted without due process, warning that the decision could amount to abuse of office and financial malpractice.

They also stated that the Bauchi State High Court, Court No. 5, had earlier issued an interim order restraining ATAP, its Governing Council and the Rector from taking any action against the lecturers in relation to the pending suit.

The lawyers added that contempt proceedings are currently pending before another High Court in Bauchi against the institution, its Governing Council and the Rector for the alleged violation of the court order.

The solicitors demanded the immediate reversal of the variation order, payment of all withheld salaries, and the uninterrupted payment of subsequent salaries and other benefits.

They warned that if the demands are not met within 48 hours of receiving the letter, they would escalate the matter to relevant authorities and initiate further legal action.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Governor of Bauchi State, the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Finance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi Correspondents’ Chapel.

As of the time of filing this report, the Bauchi State Government and the Office of the Accountant-General had not issued any official response to the allegations.