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 Dr. Isah Ali Pantami’s promotion to the rank of a professor.
Recall that the union had threatened to sanction FUTO management for approving Pantami as a professor while he is still in Federal Government’s active service as a minister.
But while speaking with The Nation on Monday, the vice-chancellor said that the management are already in court on the matter.
Meanwhile, a senior management worker at the university, who spoke in confidence, told the newspaper that ASUU has no right to dabble into a matter it has no jurisdiction over.
“Just like ASUU does not tell the university council and its Senate who to promote, it cannot tell them the criteria for promoting somebody to rank of professor.
“In law, you cannot withdraw what you don’t have. ASUU does not regulate appointments and promotions. “Some of these things are derived from NUC guidelines, and every university sets up its standard,” the source said.
ASUU had, on Monday, kicked against the promotion of Pantami as a professor, describing it as illegal.
Last year, FUTO had named the minister as a professor in cybersecurity during its council’s 186th meeting.
Pantami’s elevation has generated controversy, with many faulting FUTO on the promotion of the minister, who has never been on the teaching roll of the university and whose highest academic attainment was just a lecturer before he ventured into politics.
But addressing a press conference after its National Executive Council meeting, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said the minister was not qualified for appointment as a professor.
The union also criticised the Federal Government for allowing the said illegality to stand, calling for his removal and prosecution.
“From the information made available to us, Dr Pantami was not qualified and he violated the established procedure for appointment of professor. We are surprised that the government still allowed him to stand,” he said.
“You cannot be a minister and a lecturer in a university. It is an encouragement of illegality.
“Pantami has to quit as a minister and be tried for doing double jobs within the same federal system. He is not qualified. Pantami should not be treated as a professor.
“We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion and the VC of FUTO.”
