The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Monday, stated that Dr. Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, was never qualified to be promoted to a Professor, .
Recall, that in 2021, the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, had named the Minister as a Professor in Cybersecurity, during its Council’s 186th meeting.
Dr. Pantami’s elevation however, generated several controversies, with many faulting FUTO on the promotion of the Minister, who has never been on the teaching roll of the University, and whose highest academic attainment was a Lecturer, before he ventured into politics.
Addressing a Press Conference after its National Executive Council meeting, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated that Dr. Pantami was not qualified for appointment as a Professor.
His exact words: “From the information made available to us, Dr. Pantami was not qualified, and he violated the established procedure for appointment of Professor. We are surprised that the government still allowed him to stand.
“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. We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion, and the VC of FUTO.”