The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has approved the constitution of a four-member committee to restructure and strengthen the university’s procurement system for improved efficiency and transparency.
The committee is chaired by Professor Ashiru Bello of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), according to a letter dated October 28, 2025, which emphasized the university’s commitment to enhancing its procurement processes.
Professor Ahmed noted that the current procurement arrangement lacked adequate coordination and clearly defined relationships with other administrative and financial units. He said the growing involvement of the university in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives and large-scale transactions necessitated the creation of a more structured and responsive procurement framework.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that Professor Bello was selected to head the committee based on his “vast administrative experience and proven record of institutional leadership.”
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing the structure, staffing, and operations of the Procurement Unit; examining its relationship with key departments such as the Directorate of Academic Planning and Monitoring, Physical Planning and Municipal Services, PPP Unit, Bursary, Internal Audit, and the Registrar’s Office; identifying inefficiencies; and recommending governance mechanisms to ensure value for money.
It is also tasked with advising on capacity development, e-procurement adoption, and improved coordination with PPP processes. The committee, which reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor, has four weeks to submit its report after inauguration.
Other members of the committee include Professor Bello Muktar, Director of Academic Planning and Monitoring; Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi of the Department of Quantity Surveying; and former Director of Physical Planning and Municipal Services, Dr. Engr. Muhammad Aminu Sambo, who will serve as Secretary.
In a related development, the Vice-Chancellor has approved the appointment of Engr. Nura Garba as the Acting Head of the Procurement Unit, effective November 3, 2025.
The appointment, according to the statement, recognizes Engr. Garba’s “vast experience, discipline, and proven integrity in handling procurement and administrative processes within the university.”
The development comes as the university renews its focus on Public-Private Partnership and institutional fundraising efforts.
