Yuguda, Stakeholders Back Senate’s Plan To Convert ATBU To Conventional University

Former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, alongside other stakeholders in the state, on Friday expressed support for the Senate’s proposal to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, into a conventional university.

Their support was declared during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to gather stakeholders’ input on the proposed legislation seeking to amend the university’s status.

The hearing was chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South), who explained that the exercise was intended to allow relevant stakeholders contribute to the bill before legislative action is concluded.

Speaking at the hearing, Yuguda said opposing the conversion of ATBU to a conventional university would be unfair to the people of Bauchi State and neighbouring areas, considering the challenges faced by students seeking courses not currently offered by the institution.

According to him, resistance to the move fails to acknowledge the academic needs of the region.

“Anyone who is against making the university a conventional one is not being fair. I know what I went through to ensure ATBU began offering medicine. Today, we have over 100 medical doctors. And now some people are saying it should not be a conventional university?

“I am an economist and an accountant. If economics is not offered at ATBU, why shouldn’t I advocate for it to be introduced? There are many science, arts and other courses that are not being offered but are needed,” he said.

However, the Bauchi branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Haruna Angulu, said the union was opposed to the proposed amendment, as stated in its position paper.

“Our position is very clear. At a time when the world is advancing technologically, what is required is increased funding to strengthen and make the existing specialised university of technology more effective, rather than converting it to a conventional university,” Angulu said.

He added that ATBU remains the only university of technology in the North-East zone.

Earlier, in his keynote address, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said lawmakers, as representatives of the Nigerian people, have a duty to ensure that legislation affecting national institutions is carefully examined and enriched with expert input.

He noted that ATBU has, over the years, served as a centre of excellence in science, technology, research and innovation, but observed that the institution has outgrown some aspects of its original enabling Act.

“Like many public institutions, the university has evolved beyond the framework envisaged when its enabling law was enacted. I urge all stakeholders—academics, administrators, regulators, students, civil society organisations and development partners—to engage constructively in this process,” Akpabio said.

In his opening remarks, Senator Dandutse said the public hearing was designed to ensure the amendment bill benefits from the collective wisdom of relevant individuals and institutions.

He explained that while ATBU has grown into a major centre for learning and technological development, some provisions of its existing Act no longer reflect its current realities.

According to him, the proposed amendment seeks to update and strengthen the university’s governance framework, clarify the roles of key officers, and expand academic offerings to include more programmes in the arts, social sciences and humanities—a move that has continued to generate wide debate among academics, students, policymakers and industry experts.

James Itodo, Edited By Grace Namiji