By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
The Management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi and the national Alumni of the institution have strongly dismissed as unacceptable the legislation process by the National Assembly to convert the institution from a specialized University of Technology into a conventional university, saying that the development came as a shock
The Registrar, Alhaji Kabiru Garba Aminu and the National President of ATBU Alumni, Comrade Mohammed Sani Wada, who addressed Journalists over the situation in Bauchi yesterday, stated that the development came to them as a shock.
They declared that there was no official communication to the University Management and the Community neither did the University receive any information to that effect from the Federal Ministry of Education or the National Universities Commission(NUC).
According to the Registrar, “We just woke up one morning to hear in the media that a motion has been presented at the Senate Chambers to change the establishment laws of the University. And you may wish to know that, as of this moment that we are talking, there has not been any official communication to the University Management and the Community.
“The Vice-Chancellor, who is the chief administrative and academic officer of the University, was not consulted, neither was the Chairman of Council nor the Senate.”
He added that, “I, as the Registrar, who is the custodian of the laws and regulations of the University, have not been contacted by anyone for any input.”
“In the University system, we have organs of administration, the Senate of the University and the Governing Council. These two organs have not been consulted by anyone about the move to alter the establishment laws of the University.”
The Registrar then declared that “The University has made its position known; it is not aware of the process and therefore has no argument other than that it does not support the development and will ensure that the opposition to it stands” .
According to him, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, sponsoring the bill did not contact the University about it, pointing out that as an institution created by law, it ought to be contacted before anything can be done to the law.
Also speaking on the development, the National President of ATBU Alumni, Comrade Mohammed Sani Wada said that removing “Technology” from ATBU’s name and law would fundamentally alter its identity and undermine its founding vision of driving technological advancement, industrial growth, and national development through science and innovation.
He said that the university’s technological focus has never limited its academic growth, stressing that Instead of altering its law, the lawmakers should work towards strengthening the institution through better research funding, modern laboratories, and global partnerships.
“Instead of wasting energy and resources on changing the law, Senator Shehu Umar Buba should put energy into supporting the University to do better. He can establish an endowment, build more lecture theatres, buy vehicles, and other development programmes; his name will be written in gold” he said.
ATBU was established in 1980 as Federal University of Technology, Bauchi and renamed Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU).
Checks by our Correspondent revealed that the Senate had on October 21st, 2025 passed the second reading of a bill seeking to amend the University Act to remove “Technology” from the institution’s name and convert it into a conventional university.
The amendment bill, titled Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (Amendment) Bill 2025 (SB 910), aims to broaden the university’s mandate beyond science and technology, allowing it to introduce courses in law, social sciences, and other non-technical disciplines.
The Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba had sponsored the bill and had passed second reading which was referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative work.
