The Academic Staff of the Union of Universities (ASUU) issued its verdict on Monday on the chair granted to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Nigeria, Isa Ibrahim, popularly known as pantiescalling the appointment illegal.
Speaking at a press conference held at the University of Lagos at the end of its marathon two-day meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), ASUU said the review of the processes that led to the appointment of Mr. Ibrahim as Professor of Cybersecurity on the part of the Federal Technological University, Owerri (FUTO), opposed the procedures established within the university system.
Union president Emmanuel Osodeke said: ”ASUU NEC rejects in its entirety the alleged appointment of Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami as professor of cybersecurity.
“According to the evidence available to us, Dr. Pantami was not qualified and said appointment violated the established procedure for the appointment of professors at the university.
“NEC directs 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 cybersecurity under any NEC intent.”
ASUU said the latest decision was a follow-up to an earlier decision made in 2021 when it set up a committee to visit the university to investigate the circumstances that led to the appointment.
RL, President, ASUU Branch UNILAG, Dele Ashiru, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke (with a microphone) and other ASUU executive members during the briefing. sanction threat
Meanwhile, ASUU said it will sanction all of its members who may have participated in the proceedings, saying it will serve as a deterrent to others.
“NFC also resolved to sanction all ASUU members who participated in the process leading to the illegal appointment in accordance with our union’s established procedures,” ASUU said.
background
In September 2021, Mr. Ibrahim was among the seven scholars who were elevated by the FUTO council to the position of professor at the 186th council meeting.
The university, in a statement, listed others to include Lawrence Ettu as professor of civil engineering; Godfrey Emeghara as Professor of Maritime Management Technology; Okechukwu Onyelucheya as professor of chemical engineering; Alex Opara and Chikwendu Okereke as professors of geology, among others.
The development sparked controversy among Nigerians, especially academics, who felt the process leading up to the appointment was “unprecedented and illegal”.
The university was also attacked by Nigerians, and in particular by academics and activists, who described the minister’s appointment as patronizing and “an assault on Nigeria’s academic system”.