ASUU Probes Panel, Clears FUTO over Appointment of Pantami as Professor

• The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU)’s panel has cleared FUTO over Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami’s appointment as a professor of Cybersecurity
• The panel according to its report, requested the management of the university to take steps that would protect FUTO’s integrity and correct some false statements against the school
• Meanwhile, legal action was one of the measures recommended by the panel so as to deal with those planning to dent the image of the university

Imo, Owerri- The panel set up by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), chapter of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), has said the appointment of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami, as a professor of Cybersecurity by the university followed due process.

It would be recalled that the panel was inaugurated by the ASUU chapter of the university at its congress on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021.

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Vanguard reports that the panel in its report asked the university management to protect the integrity of FUTO by taking steps to correct some misrepresentations against it.

Among other measures, the panel recommended legal action against those who attempted to stain the reputation of the university.

Members of the committee included Prof. M. S. Nwakaudu (Chairman), Prof. G.A. Anyanwu; Prof. C. E. Orji, Prof. O.P. Onyewuchi, and Prof.T. I. N. Ezejiofor (member/Secretary).

The panel explained in detail how Pantami applied for a professorial appointment and the steps taken by the university to grant his request.

Part of the report stated that:

“FUTO advertised vacancies in the Academic and Academic Support Staff in six schools (namely SICT, SESET, SOES, SOHT, SBMS and SOBS) and 23 departments, which includes Cybersecurity.

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“Dr. Isa Ibrahim responded and applied for the post of Professor of Cybersecurity. He was given a temporary appointment as Professor of Cybersecurity in the Cyber-security Department, for which he accepted in writing."

The panel said the minister’s publications passed through rigorous processes under external assessors and scaled six hurdles before his appointment as a professor was approved, The Sun also reported.

While reacting to the report yesterday, Sunday, November 7, Chairman of ASUU, FUTO Owerri chapter, Christopher Echereobia, said the Union would meet later this month to deliberate on the matter

He said:

“You know we have a hierarchy and procedure.

“The committee was constituted at the instance of the national. We were directed to do that; we turned in our report last week.

“As I am talking to you, our colleagues from other states have arrived Owerri, we will have a zonal meeting where the report will be presented.

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“On the 12th of this month, we will be arriving Abuja for our National Executive Council, NEC, meeting where the report will be looked into and decided.

“So by the time, we present it to the NEC of ASUU, whatever NEC, decides on it will be the position of ASUU.’’

Fresh strike looms as ASUU accuses FG of ignoring ultimatum

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had on Tuesday, September 21, said that the ultimatum it issued in July did not elicit any response from the federal government.

It was reported that the National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Oshodeke, during an interview stated that the government had not implemented the agreement it reached with the union nor responded to the ultimatum.

The union had on Saturday, July 19 issued a fresh ultimatum to FG, to pay the outstanding 10-month arrears of its members’ salaries or be prepared for another industrial action.

Source: Legit.ng