By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has directed the newly inaugurated Visitation Panels for the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi, and Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare (ASCOEA), to investigate staff frictions, administrative bottlenecks, financial management and academic standards in the two institutions.
The Governor, who spoke on Thursday at the inauguration of the panels at the Government House, Bauchi, said the exercise was aimed at strengthening governance, accountability, academic excellence and institutional development in the two premier tertiary institutions.
Represented by his deputy, Muhammad Auwal Jatau, the Governor said education remained the bedrock of his administration's development agenda, stressing that higher education must serve as a driver of innovation, character development and economic growth.
"Therefore, we must ensure our institutions possess the regulatory and administrative health required to succeed," he said.
He explained that standard regulatory and governance protocols require comprehensive institutional assessments through visitation panels periodically, usually every five years.
According to him, ATAP and ASCOEA were due for the systematic evaluation, particularly in view of their phenomenal growth and the need to align their development with the administration’s transformation agenda for the education sector.
Mohammed said a major milestone for ASCOEA was the approval and implementation of the Dual Mandate System, which enables the college to run both Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and independent degree programmes concurrently.
He said the development would end the institution’s long-standing dependence on external university affiliations and significantly elevate its academic status.
"However, a dual mandate requires dual responsibility. Expanding academic offerings demands absolute institutional readiness, strict curriculum quality assurance and rigorous financial discipline," he said.
The governor therefore charged the panel to thoroughly assess ASCOEA’s structural, infrastructural and academic readiness to effectively operate under the expanded mandate.
On ATAP, Mohammed said the institution had evolved from a small vocational centre into a major state-owned polytechnic offering diverse diploma and degree programmes.
He noted that the institution had expanded its student population and infrastructure to meet the demand for middle-level manpower in the state and upgraded its academic curricula to secure accreditation for various National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
The governor, however, expressed concern over recurring internal disagreements, factionalism and friction among staff in the institutions, warning that such developments could undermine academic excellence.
"In spite of these developments in the institutions, we cannot achieve academic excellence in an atmosphere of chaos. Recurring internal disagreements, factionalism and friction among staff members within these institutions have become sources of concern.
"Internal politics and personal grievances have begun to overshadow academic responsibilities. Let me be clear. Our administration will not tolerate toxic infighting that disrupts peace and slows down progress," he warned.
He consequently directed the panels to investigate the root causes of staff disagreements, trade union disputes and administrative bottlenecks and provide a clear roadmap for restoring industrial harmony and productivity.
The Governor stressed that the panels were not constituted to witch-hunt anyone, but to conduct an objective assessment aimed at improving the institutions.
He tasked them with examining administrative bottlenecks, management-labour relations and long-standing disputes between management and staff unions, while ensuring that internally generated revenue and government subventions were properly utilised for the benefit of students and institutional development.
The panels are also expected to assess the relationship between the institutions and statutory and regulatory bodies, including the Bauchi State Ministry of Higher Education, governing councils and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to determine compliance with relevant policies and regulations.
They are to review the relationship between management and governing councils, examine financial records, subventions and internally generated revenue, and determine whether grants and loans were utilised in accordance with approved budgetary regulations.
Similarly, the panels are expected to review the quality, relevance and status of academic programmes, as well as the condition of instructional facilities, including workshops, laboratories and e-libraries, to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Mohammed also directed the panels to conduct a comprehensive review of the institutions’ human resources, including the ratio of academic to non-academic staff, recruitment and promotion processes, and compliance with civil service rules.
He said the panels must verify the certificates, transcripts and professional profiles of academic staff and determine whether lecturers possess the requisite postgraduate and technical qualifications for their responsibilities.
The governor further directed them to identify qualification mismatches in which lecturers are assigned to teach courses outside their areas of specialisation, warning that such practices could compromise the quality of instruction.
The panels are also expected to examine the welfare of staff and students and investigate industrial relations between management and labour unions, with a view to identifying the causes of disputes and recommending lasting solutions to prevent recurrent strikes.
They are further mandated to review the laws establishing the institutions and identify provisions that may have become obsolete or hindered their growth, with recommendations for possible legislative amendments by the State House of Assembly.
Mohammed said the panels would also advise him on any other matters of public interest or institutional integrity that could affect the smooth running, development and reputation of the institutions.
He directed the panels to submit their reports to the Visitor within eight weeks of their inauguration.
"To the panel members, you were selected based on your integrity and track record. Bauchi State expects total objectivity, thoroughness and fairness from your assignment.
"To the management, staff and students, I demand your maximum cooperation with these panels. Hide no information and shield no wrongdoing. We must collectively rescue our institutions from administrative decline," the governor said.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Prof. Abdulrahman Saminu Ibrahim, was appointed Chairman of the panel for Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP).
Other members are Prof. Muazu Saidu Badara of the Department of Accounting, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and former lecturer at ATAP; Prof. Isa Mohammed of ATBU; Barr. Abdulhamid Abubakar Bununu, Special Adviser on Multilateral Affairs and former Head of Administration/Head of Department, Ministry of Justice; Abdon Dalla Gin, Special Adviser on Civil Service and former Head of Service; and Aliyu Abdullahi Dambam, former Auditor-General and Deputy Accountant-General.
The Director of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Higher Education, will serve as Secretary to the panel.
While for Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare (ASCOEA), the Governor appointed Prof. Muhammad Ahmad Abdulaziz, former Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi as chairman.
Other members are Prof. Demo Kalla of ATBU; Dr. (Arc.) Habu Yusuf Abba of Sa’adu Zungur University and former Head of the Public Works Department, ATBU; Hon. Usman Danturaki, Special Adviser on Labour Matters; Barr. M.U. Usman, Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice; and Lawan Bello, former Director, Office of the Accountant-General.
The director, administration and human resources, Ministry of Higher Education, will serve as Secretary to the panel.
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