The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi branch, has called for a public withdrawal of comments allegedly made by a former Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda, and demanded his resignation as Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria.
The union described the remarks as a show of contempt for professors and an attack on university autonomy and academic freedom.
ASUU said it was shocked by Yuguda’s statements at a recent National Assembly public hearing on a bill seeking to convert ATBU Bauchi from a technology focused institution to a conventional university. The union’s position was contained in a statement signed by its chairperson, Comrade Angulu Haruna, and made public on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Yuguda allegedly described those opposing the bill as criminals and expressed displeasure over professors who spoke against the proposal. The union said such remarks were inappropriate and unacceptable, particularly from a former state chief executive.
ASUU stressed that participation in public hearings is a constitutional right and warned against attempts to intimidate or silence academics who raise concerns about policies affecting universities. The union described the comments attributed to Yuguda as appalling and unbecoming of someone entrusted with leadership within the university system.
The union further urged the Minister of Education, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, the Governor of Bauchi State and President Bola Tinubu, as Visitor to the university, to intervene urgently in the matter.
ASUU also criticised a separate video message allegedly released by a former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Alhaji Ladan Salihu, in which ATBU management and the NUC were faulted for opposing the bill.
The union warned that such statements pose a serious threat to academic freedom and the autonomy of Nigerian universities.
