By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for the immediate resignation of former Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, from his position as Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), following what the union described as “reckless, contemptuous and dangerous” remarks credited to him at a National Assembly public hearing.
The controversy arose during a public hearing on a bill seeking to convert the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, from a specialised University of Technology to a conventional university.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing held at the ASUU Secretariat in Bauchi, the Chairperson of ASUU, ATBU Bauchi Branch, Dr. Angulu Haruna, accused Yuguda of criminalising dissent and undermining university autonomy.
Dr. Haruna quoted the former governor as declaring that “any person who is against turning the University into a conventional University is a criminal.” He further alleged that Yuguda expressed frustration at professors who opposed the bill, reportedly remarking, “Who the hell are professors, for goodness sake?”
According to ASUU, such statements are unbecoming of a former state chief executive and a sitting pro-chancellor entrusted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to oversee a federal university.
“It is appalling and unfortunate for a former governor to criminalise citizens for exercising their legitimate right to participate in a public legislative process,” Haruna said.
The union stated that Yuguda’s remarks demonstrated a “gross disregard” for professors and raised serious questions about his competence, integrity and commitment to nation-building and national security.
ASUU also dismissed claims by Yuguda that he was instrumental to the establishment of ATBU’s College of Medical Sciences, clarifying that the college predated his administration. The union explained that the Bauchi State Government had merely handed over the former State Specialist Hospital to the Federal Government and was compensated for it.
According to Haruna, the proceeds of that compensation were subsequently used by the Yuguda administration to develop other health facilities in the state, including the Specialist Hospital along Ran Road.
The union further expressed concern over a video message released by Alhaji Ladan Salihu, a former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), condemning ATBU management and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for opposing the bill.
ASUU described Salihu’s claim that opponents of the bill were “enemies of the people of Bauchi State” as a threat to academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
“ASUU, as a union of intellectuals committed to the global competitiveness of public universities, is deeply worried about these blatant affronts and threats against professors, the governing council and the university administration,” Haruna added.
The union called on the Executive Secretary of the NUC, the Minister of Education, the Bauchi State Governor, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—Visitor to the University—to urgently intervene to protect ATBU, Bauchi, and its academic community.
ASUU warned that failure to act could allow the situation to deteriorate beyond control. Keep a date with Krestnews.com