JUST IN: ASUU declares Isa Pantami’s professorship illegal; prepares to sanction those involved in his promotion [Details]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared the professorship of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, as illegal.

Giving reasons for the declaration, the union faulted the process that led to the promotion of the minister to a rank of a professor, while noting that one cannot be a minister and a lecturer in a university.

Meanwhile, Isa Pantami’s elevation to the rank of a professor had been a subject of discourse across the country, with many faulting FUTO (Federal University of Technology) on his promotion on the grounds that his highest academic attainment was reportedly a lecturer before he ventured into politics.

Addressing the controversy, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU on Monday, said, “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 (Federal University of Technology).”