The Bauchi State House of Assembly has ordered a comprehensive overhaul of the Bill and Melinda Gates College of Health Technology, Ningi, following a probe into a fire outbreak on October 23, 2025, suspected to be arson. The investigation, conducted by the Joint Committee on Health and Public Accounts, was triggered by a petition from citizens of the Ningi Emirate. According to a statement by Zakariyya Gwaram of the Assembly's Information and Publication Directorate, the fire destroyed the library, computer laboratory, lecture halls, and vital records. The Bauchi State Fire Service reportedly found matches and hand gloves at the scene, pointing to deliberate human involvement. While some suspects were arrested and interrogated, none have been conclusively identified or prosecuted. The probe also uncovered internal conflicts among management, weak discipline, and inadequate security that left the institution vulnerable. The college's Consultancy Unit admitted about 1,450 students beyond capacity, compromising academic standards. Financial mismanagement was alleged, including unpaid part-time lecturers and poor accounting of unit revenues. A shortage of skilled personnel in the accounts department was noted, increasing the risk of financial leakages. Lawmakers cited undue interference in administration, leading to the admission of unqualified candidates and pressure on staff to manipulate results. Speaker Abubakar Suleiman directed the Clerk to notify the Ministry of Local Government Affairs to involve the Ningi Emirate in addressing external interference. The Assembly clarified that indexing fees are set by external regulatory bodies, not the college, and misunderstandings have fueled tensions with parents. Recommendations include dissolving the Consultancy Unit's leadership, conducting a forensic audit, improving funding, deploying local vigilantes, regulating admissions, and holding lecturers accountable. The executive arm was urged to invest in infrastructure, strengthen community engagement, and ensure justice for those behind the fire.
The same lawmakers who cite external interference in college appointments now seek the Ningi Emirate's help to fix it, creating a clear contradiction in their stance on autonomy. The admission of 1,450 students through the Consultancy Unit directly implicates named college officials in overstretching facilities meant for fewer students. Parents who protested indexing fees may now question why unchecked admissions were allowed to proceed without similar outcry from the Assembly. With part-time lecturers unpaid for months, the credibility of academic oversight at the institution is severely undermined.
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