The Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Professor Ibrahim Garba, has assured that his administration will uphold financial prudence and academic justice in tackling the institution’s challenges.
Garba gave the assurance on Wednesday when officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) paid him a solidarity visit in his office.
Expressing appreciation for the visit, the Vice-Chancellor said the university community’s pride lay in sustaining ATBU’s progress as a citadel of learning. He disclosed that his administration inherited a huge debt profile but had managed to reduce it significantly without resorting to fresh borrowing.
“When I assumed office, I met a huge amount of debt at the university. I have been able to settle nearly one-third of that loan in the last few months without incurring any fresh loan at all,” he stated.
On welfare interventions, Garba revealed that five luxury buses had been refurbished to ease students’ shuttle services between the Gubi and Yelwa campuses, while a 32-seater bus was also being prepared to support staff transportation.
He further noted that six out of the university’s 11 grounded tractors had been refurbished for this year’s farming season, with two more almost ready. According to him, the intervention aims to support staff and members of the Bauchi community farming on the campuses, at rates subsidised to less than 30 percent of commercial charges.
The unions commended the Vice-Chancellor’s efforts, pledging their support to ensure stability and growth in the university.
