By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The Bauchi State Citizens Forum has condemned plans by the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) to close some faculties and academic programmes, calling the move “a direct attack on the state’s educational aspirations.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Bauchi, the forum’s leaders, Comrade Abdullahi Yalwa and Jibrin Sa’id Jibrin, said the proposed shutdown—reportedly affecting the Faculty of Management Sciences and other programmes—would deny thousands of prospective students access to higher education and “reverse years of progress.”
They accused Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Garba of “misguiding” the governing council and stalling resource verification for nearly 50-degree courses earlier approved by the National Universities Commission.
“This shrinking of ATBU’s academic space is one of the greatest disservices to Bauchi people. We will resist it within the law,” the forum declared, urging the Federal Government, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and the Bauchi State Government to intervene.
The group praised governing council chairman Air Commodore Emmanuel Jakada (rtd) for “showing maturity” and vowed: “Aluta continua, victoria ascerta.”
