…Says due process was not followed
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – As the controversy of the professorial appointment granted the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, the Congress of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi Branch on Thursday castigated the awarding institution, stressing that due process was not followed.
The ATBU branch of ASUU also dissociated and distanced itself from the congratulatory message published by the University’s Vice Chancellor on its behalf, saying there was no consultation whatsoever.
This was as the leadership of ATBU ASUU pointedly declared that the academic body is not convinced that due process was followed in the appointment/promotion of Isa Ali Pantami by the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).The Chairman of ATBU branch of ASUU, Dr Ibrahim I. Inuwa stressed that something is definitely wrong somewhere along the line of the exercise.
In the words of Inuwa; “From every indication, the entire exercise was shrouded in inadequacies, diligent due process were not followed, every requirement was jettisoned. It is a total disregard to academic excellence”.
Inuwa, who was flanked by other members of the executive committee of ASUU told Journalists that of all the requirements needed for someone to rise to the position of a Professor in the academia, none was considered before the promotion of Isa Ali Pantami by FUTO.
The ASUU Chairman also said that even though the FUTO branch of the Union’s investigative panel has submitted its reports, he however noted that; “the report is shrouded with a lot of inadequacies,” stressing that all the relevant questions have not been answered by the report.
According to Inuwa; “This has cast doubts in the minds of people about the veracity of the report. If all due processes were followed, the controversies that trailed the exercise would not have arisen”.
The ATBU ASUU Congress at its general assembly, said that it was neither consulted nor intimated by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Abdul’azeez before the publication which came as an embarrassment to it.
In a resolution titled; ‘DISCLAIMER ON THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA UNIVERSITY, BAUCHI CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO DR. ISA ALI IBRAHIM PANTAMI ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE RANK OF PROFESSOR’ ASUU described it as indeed appalling that the Vice Chancellor used such a fiat on the University Community.
The resolution which was jointly signed by ASUU ATBU branch Chairperson, Dr Ibrahim Inuwa and Secretary, M. Initi said it is in view of this that the Congress of ASUU ATBU Bauchi, resolved that it is not a party to such decision and has absolved itself from attempts to smear the corporate image of the University, the Citadel of learning and ASUU ATBU, Bauchi.
The ASUU ATBU branch further stated; “You may recall the recent announcement by one of our Universities on the appointment of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a Professor of Cyber-security by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and the anguish and tension it generated nationwide”.
“In addition, you may wish to recall that the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi had on behalf of Council, Senate, Congregation, Staff and Students wrote and delivered a congratulatory letter to him”.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ATBU Bauchi, Branch wishes to unequivocally state that on no occasion did the critical stakeholders such as the Senate and the Congregation of ATBU, Bauchi was consulted for such congratulatory letter despite the controversies surrounding the appointment.
“It is our affirmation that we are not a party to such decision by the Vice Chancellor of ATBU,” the Congress insisted.
