PANTAMI'S PROFESSORSHIP ILLEGAL, Says ASUU.... To Sanction FUTO VC, Others

Isa Pantami

"You Cannot Be A Minister And A Lecturer In A University. It Is An Encouragement Of Illegality." Osodeke

"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 promotion of Dr Isa Ali Pantami, Nigeria's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, as a Professor by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri in Imo state, has been faulted by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities made this known in the early hours of Monday, 14th February 2022 after its National Executive Council meeting where it declared the promotion as “illegal”.

ASUU made this known at a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.

"You cannot be a Minister and a lecturer in a University. It is an encouragement of illegality." Osodeke stated.

"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."

In September 2021, Pantami, alongside seven academics were elevated by the council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri to the position of professorship at the council’s 186th meeting.

The Minister’s elevation has generated controversy, with many faulting FUTO on the promotion of the minister, who was not teaching in the university and whose highest academic attainment was reportedly a lecturer before he ventured into politics.

"We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion and the VC of FUTO," the ASUU added. (Punch)