By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi, Nigeria - September 24, 2025(Series news online)
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have expressed solidarity with the Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Garba, praising his leadership style and achievements.
During separate visits to the VC's office, the unions commended Prof. Garba's commitment to financial prudence, rule of law, and staff and students' welfare. SSANU Chairman, Comrade Sulisma Dauda Jatau, described the VC's leadership as exemplary, while NASU Chairman, Comrade Yusuf D. Yusuf, pledged continued support for the administration's efforts to strengthen academic excellence.
However, both unions condemned recent negative media campaigns against the university leadership, describing them as unfortunate and damaging to the institution's image. "We are concerned about misplaced media attacks linked to a Federal Government policy wrongly attributed to the Vice-Chancellor," Comrade Yusuf said.
Prof. Garba expressed gratitude for the unions' solidarity, emphasizing his administration's commitment to financial discipline and academic justice. He highlighted significant achievements, including settling nearly one-third of the university's debt burden without taking fresh loans.
The VC also disclosed plans to enhance staff and student welfare, including deploying refurbished luxury buses for student transportation and rehabilitating grounded tractors to support farming activities at subsidized rates. "Our major aim is to support staff and members of the Bauchi community who are farming on our campuses with a subsidized rate charged at less than 30% of commercial rate in town," he noted.
Furthermore, Prof. Garba announced plans for a seamless promotion process to reduce delays in staff career progression.
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