The Bauchi State Government has sacked the Bursar of the Sa’adu Zungur State University (SAZU) over allegations bordering on financial impropriety.
Governor Bala Mohammed observed that the huge financial resources the university has been generating for 12 years since its creation in 2012 were not being accounted for by the institution’s management.
Speaking while receiving the report of the University’s visitation panel on Tuesday, the Governor blamed the management of the institution for taking SAZU as an autonomous body when it is owned by over eight million people of the state.
“The huge resources that the University was generating over the years are not accounted for, because the financial compendium for funding the institution was not complied with”, he observed.
He said, however, that both the state and local government councils that have been funding the institution would be held responsible for their inability to comply with the funding arrangements, while the university management has its own blame for lacking accountability for the fund generated over the years.
Consequently, Governor Mohammed assured that the state government would set up an audit committee to investigate the management of the institution with focus on all funds collected from students and other internal revenue sources.
“As part of immediate actions, the government has relieved the varsity’s Acting Bursar, Ayuba Mohammed Gital of his appointment over alleged irregularities surrounding his engagement,” Governor Bala declared.
He explained that the constitution of the visitation panel followed the recent industrial disputes within the University’s main campus in Gadau by the academic staff.
Mohammed recalled that although the government had previously refrained from interfering in the financial operations of the university, it has now been essential to take decisive steps to ensure transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the institution.
Governor Mohammed commended the panel for its thorough work and actionable recommendations, assuring that the report would be presented to the State Executive Council for deliberation and necessary action.
Earlier while presenting the report, the chairperson of the panel, Professor Gambo Laraba Abdullahi, said the body engaged with key stakeholders to receive numerous memoranda, and inspected facilities across the university’s three campuses in Gadau, Misau and Bauchi.
While expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve on the panel, Professor Abdullahi emphasised the importance of implementing its recommendations to restore stability and improve the institution.
The panel chairperson said a total of 47 memoranda were received from the management, principal officers, staff and Students’ Union, aggrieved persons, complainants, members of the community and other stakeholders.
She further disclosed that the panel also looked into the complaints of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), SAZUG chapter; including absence of an exit policy, funding and managerial issues and positively addressed them.
“We implore ASUU (SAZUG Chapter) and other stakeholders to exercise patience and give Your Excellency time to look into the report as the problems inherited spanning 12 years since establishment of the University cannot be solved at once,” Gambo noted.
Gambo commended the state Governor for giving the University the sum of N400 million in January, 2025 as against the N80 million it was receiving previously.
“The panel has also offered suggestions on various avenues for the university to look out of the box and improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without solely relying on Government funding or tasking students. Issues of financial management in particular procurement matters were well addressed,” she noted.
“We have equally studied the Multi-Campus structure of the University, its political and academic implications and various disadvantages and made recommendations for your able consideration,” Prof Gambo told the Governor.
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