ASUU ATBU branch chairperson, Dr Ibrahim I Inuwa
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
As controversy continues to trail the promotion of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami to the position of a Professor by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, the Congress of the ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi BRANCH has dissociated itself from the congratulatory message published by the University on its behalf.
The Congress after 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’ after the meeting, jointly signed by ASUU ATBU branch Chairperson, Dr Ibrahim Inuwa and Secretary, M. M Initi stated that, “It is indeed appalling that the VC used such a fiat on the University Community. It is in view of this, 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 that, “Distinguished members, our friends in the media, ladies and gentlemen, 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 resolution further contained.
The Congress then declared that, “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 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 concluded.
Interacting with Journalists later, the ATBU brach Chairperson, Dr Ibrahim I. Inuwa explained that ASUU is not convinced that due process was followed in the appointment/promotion of Isa Ali Pantami by the management of FUTO.
He opined that had all the due process was followed, all the controversies that trailed the exercise will not have arisen stressing that something is definitely wrong somewhere along the line of the exercise.
Ibrahim Inuwa added that, “from all indications, the entire exercise was shrouded in inadequacies, diligent due process were not followed, every requirement was jettison. It is a total disregard to academic excellence”.
The ASUU ATBU branch Chairperson who was flanked by other members of the EXCO while interacting with Journalists said 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.
He then assured that, though the FUTO branch of ASUU investigative panel has submitted its reports, he said that, “the report is shrouded with a lot of inadequacies because all the relevant questions have not been answered by the report, this has cast doubts in the minds of people about the veracity of the report”.
