Isa Pantami’s Professorship Is Illegal – ASUU Insists

…To sanction FUTO VC, Others

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday took a critical look at te Professorial chair granted to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), declaring it as illegal and far below acceptable standards. Pantami, alongside seven academics were elevated by the council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri to a controversial position of professorship at its 186th meeting in September 2021,

The development generated dusts and controversies as many argued that Pantami did not merit nor qualified for the position since he was yet to meet the necessary requirements for the award of professorship.

Commenting on the matter at a press conference, President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday February 14, declared that Pantami was not qualified to be a Professor and should therefore not be treated as such.

In the words of Osodeke; “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.”

The ASUU President also said that the Vice Chancellor of FUTO and members of the union involved in Pantami’s promotion will be sanctioned.

Osodeke further said; “We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion and the VC of FUTO”.