* Says: You can’t dictate to us who or who not to promote
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, says the management has gone to court over the rejection of Dr. Isah Ibrahim Pantami’s promotion to the rank as a professor of Cyber Security by the institution.
This followed the threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to sanction FUTO management for approving Pantami as a professor while still in Federal government’s active service as a minister.
Prof Oti reportedly said the management went to court on the matter, declining any comment or discussion on the matter, as it might be deemed ‘subjudice’.
Nonetheless, a senior management worker (names withheld), argued that ASUU has no right to dabble into a matter that does not concern it.
“Just like ASUU does not tell the university council and its Senate who to promote, it cannot tell them the criteria for promoting somebody to the rank of professor. In law, you cannot withdraw what you don’t have. ASUU does not regulate appointments and promotions. Some of these things are derived from NUC guidelines, and every university sets its standard,” the worker submitted.