The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the promotion of Isa Ibrahim Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, as a professor of cyber security by the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU President said in Lagos that Pantami’s professorial appointment was illegal and urged schools not to address the minister as a professor.
Pantami was among seven academics elevated by the council of FUTO to the position of a professorship at the council’s 186th meeting. His promotion had been controversial for many in academia who argued that he does not merit it.
Osodeke said ASUU sent a fact-finding team to FUTO to investigate the professorship award. The team has submitted a comprehensive report to the National Executive Council (NEC).
“As a result of the comprehensive report submitted on all the relevant matters, NEC hereby rejects in its entity, the purported appointment of Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a professor of cyber security,” Osodeke said.
“From the evidence available to us, Dr. Pantami was not qualified, and the said appointment violated established procedure for appointment of professors in the university.”
The ASUU president said the NEC has directed “all members and branches of our union throughout the Nigerian federation not to recognize, accord or treat Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a professor of cyber security under any guise.
“NEC also resolved to sanction all ASUU members who participated in the process that led to the illegal appointment in accordance with the’ established procedures of our union.”
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Owerri, FUTO, Prof. Nnenna Oti, says the university management has sued the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over its rejection of Ali-Pantami’s promotion to the rank of a professor.
The vice-chancellor said that the management is already in court on the matter.
