Senate Halts Hearing On ATBU Amendment Act Over Stakeholders Clash

By Idris Danladi

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has indefinitely adjourned its public hearing on the bill seeking to amend the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi Establishment Act.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District.

Tuesday’s session became heated as stakeholders presented memoranda both for and against the proposed amendment.

Key institutions and figures including the National Universities Commission (NUC), former TETFUND Executive Secretary, Professor Sulaiman Bogoro, and the Pro-Chancellor of ATBU, strongly opposed the bill, insisting that the university’s current status should remain unchanged.

The hearing was abruptly disrupted following tensions among participants.

Speaking to journalists after the session, ATBU Vice Chancellor, Professor Hassan Garba, assured that the issues raised would eventually be resolved.

According to him, the debate was intense because arguments against converting ATBU were backed by “superior scientific reasoning,” particularly the need to preserve the institution as the only specialised University of Technology in the Northeast.

He noted that while both sides initially engaged constructively, disagreements escalated as opposition to the amendment gained momentum.

The disruption climaxed with a protest by some constituents who objected to the presentation of a memorandum by the National President of the ATBU Alumni Association, Mohammed Wada, leading the committee to suspend the hearing indefinitely.