The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi branch, has called for the public retraction and resignation of former Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, from his position as Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The demand follows remarks by Yuguda at a recent National Assembly public hearing on a bill seeking to convert ATBU from a technology-focused university to a conventional one, which ASUU described as an “affront to university autonomy and academic integrity.”
In a statement signed by ASUU chairperson Comrade Angulu Haruna and shared on the union’s Facebook page on Wednesday, the union said it was “shocked and stunned” by Yuguda’s comments, which allegedly criminalized opposition to the bill and disparaged professors who voiced concerns. Yuguda was quoted as saying, “Who the hell are professors for goodness sake!”
ASUU urged the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Minister of Education, the Bauchi State Governor, and President Bola Tinubu, as Visitor to the university, to intervene promptly.
The union described Yuguda’s remarks as “appalling and unfortunate” and questioned his competence and suitability to oversee a university system.
The union also condemned a video by Alhaji Ladan Salihu, former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), for criticizing ATBU management and the NUC, describing his statement as a further threat to university autonomy and academic freedom.
