By Muhammad Sani Muazu
Bauchi — The management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has clarified that the reported plan to close some faculties and programmes in the institution is not a decision taken by the university itself but a directive from the Federal Government.
The clarification followed concerns raised by the Bauchi State Citizens Forum, which recently condemned the alleged move, describing it as a setback for education in the state.
Speaking in an interview, the Director of Information and Public Affairs of ATBU, Zailani Bappa, explained that the Federal Ministry of Education has ordered all specialized universities in Nigeria to return to their original mandates.
“This is a law from the Federal Government, and it is beyond the powers of any university administration. ATBU, like other specialized universities created in Yola, Minna, Akure, Owerri and Bauchi, was established to focus on science, technology and engineering. Over the years, additional programmes were introduced, but now the government has directed that all universities must go back to their core mandates,” Bappa said.
He stressed that the process would be carried out in an orderly manner, noting that no student would be forced out midway through their studies.
“What will happen is that new admissions into the affected programmes will be suspended, but students already enrolled will be allowed to graduate. Staff members will not lose their jobs either, since they are federal employees and can be redeployed where necessary,” he explained.
Bappa further noted that the university has always sought ways to expand its academic scope in order to meet the needs of Bauchi State and the country at large. He pointed out that if ongoing efforts by stakeholders to amend the institution’s enabling law succeed, ATBU could be upgraded into a conventional university.
“If ATBU becomes a conventional university, it would give us the opportunity to introduce more courses, even in areas like journalism up to the postgraduate level. That would mean our children will not need to leave Bauchi to study such courses elsewhere,” he added.
He reassured that the institution is committed to maintaining order, standards, and quality in its academic activities, while stakeholders continue to push for its expansion.