By Mojeed Alabi

Nigeria’s minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ibrahim, popularly known as Pantami, has reacted to the verdict passed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on his appointment as a professor of Cybersecurity by the Federal University of Technology, Oweri (FUTO).

Mr Ibrahim, who spoke on Wednesday while addressing journalists shortly after the Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) which was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said he would refrain from publicly speaking on the issue because the matter is in court.

The minister had spoken extensively on a policy document approved by FEC which mandates government officials and agencies to mandatorily use official emails with the government’s domain name, but when asked about the ASUU’s position on his professorship award, he declined comment.

The minister said: “On your second question, no comment. No comment, and no comment. That is my position. I’m here for an official assignment that focuses on my responsibility. So anything to deal with my ministry of communications and digital economy, I can be subjected to you and that is why I come here. I couldn’t go anywhere.

“What is most important is that the institutions you have mentioned are in court. As a government official, do you know what contempt of court is? You need to know. So because of this, I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

In September, 2021, Mr Ibrahim was among seven academics who were elevated by the council of FUTO to the position of professorship at the council’s 186th meeting.

The university, in a statement, listed others to include Lawrence Ettu as a professor of civil engineering; Godfrey Emeghara as a professor of maritime management technology; Okechukwu Onyelucheya as a professor of chemical engineering; Alex Opara and Chikwendu Okereke as professors of geology, among others.

The development had attracted controversy among Nigerians, especially academics, who described the process leading to the appointment as “unprecedented and illegal.”


Backstory

ASUU on Monday gave its verdict on the professorship awarded to Mr Ibrahim, describing the appointment as illegal.

At a media briefing held at the University of Lagos at the end of its two-day marathon meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), ASUU said the review of the processes that led to Mr Ibrahim’s appointment as a professor , were against the laid-down procedures within the university system.

The union’s president, Emmanuel Osodeke, said: “ASUU NEC rejects in its entirety the purported appointment of Dr Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami as a professor of cybersecurity.

“From the evidence available to us, Dr Pantami was not qualified, and the said appointment violated established procedure for appointment of professors in the university.

“NEC directs all members and branches of our union throughout the Nigerian federation not to recognize, accord or treat Dr Isah All Ibrahim Pantami as a professor of cybersecurity under any quise NEC.”

ASUU said the latest decision was a follow-up to an earlier decision taken in 2021 when it set up a committee to visit the university to investigate the circumstances leading to the appointment.


Sanction threat

Meanwhile, ASUU said it will sanction all its members who may have taken part in the processes, saying such will serve as deterrence to others.

“NFC also resolved to sanction all ASUU members who participated in the process that led to the illegal appointment in accordance with the established procedures of our union,” ASUU said.

Fahdiga:
Only under a lifeless terrorist will a well known jihadist and an academic fraudster will remain a minister

FreeStuffsNG:


Hmmm.. You better go and face your studies and life so that one day newspapers will even be using your "no comment" to sell their newspapers.

The two people you hate; one(Dr Pantami) has a PhD no one is questioning and the other one you hate( Gen. Buhari) because he is not also from your tribe, is a war veteran and reached the pinnacle of his career and 30 years after still returned to be a President.

Achievers like Pantami and PMB you hate did not waste their prime idlying away on the internet and cowardly hiding behind a keyboard to make hate speeches and insult folks old enough to be your grandparents.

I hope you will one day look back, read your comments and realize that every insult you threw online actually manifested in your life

FreeStuffsNG:


Hmmm.. You better go and face your studies and life so that one day newspapers will even be using your "no comment" to sell their newspapers.

The two people you hate; one(Dr Pantami) has a PhD no one is questioning and the other one you hate( Gen. Buhari) because he is not also from your tribe, is a war veteran and reached the pinnacle of his career and 30 years after still returned to be a President.

Achievers like Pantami and PMB you hate did not waste their prime idlying away on the internet and cowardly hiding behind a keyboard to make hate speeches and insult folks old enough to be your grandparents.

I hope you will one day look back, read your comments and realize that every insult you threw online actually manifested in your life

Faller:



You Said all these rubbish, yet you're still a BMC living on 30k stipend

AdventHero:
Hmmm....We can't stop praying for our dear country; we must be proactive and honest - from the smallest child in the street, to the richest man in the throne of power.

---

Meanwhile...here's a short video; you can be an uncontested Professor of Faith!

But the question is, ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR FAITH? ARE YOU GROWING IN FAITH?
Kindly share and join us now to learn more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xReYZm6tNrY

FreeStuffsNG:


Hmmm.. You better go and face your studies and life so that one day newspapers will even be using your "no comment" to sell their newspapers.

The two people you hate; one(Dr Pantami) has a PhD no one is questioning and the other one you hate( Gen. Buhari) because he is not also from your tribe, is a war veteran and reached the pinnacle of his career and 30 years after still returned to be a President.

Achievers like Pantami and PMB you hate did not waste their prime idlying away on the internet and cowardly hiding behind a keyboard to make hate speeches and insult folks old enough to be your grandparents.

I hope you will one day look back, read your comments and realize that every insult you threw online actually manifested in your life so you can tell others who may want to toe your bad path not to do it
Here's free book on business ideas & money sources directory for you,it's 100% free! https://www.nairaland.com/6666800/looking-business-ideas-money-fund. Cheers.

Fahdiga:
Only under a lifeless terrorist will a well known jihadist and an academic fraudster will remain a minister

FreeStuffsNG:


Hmmm.. You better go and face your studies and life so that one day newspapers will even be using your "no comment" to sell their newspapers.

The two people you hate; one(Dr Pantami) has a PhD no one is questioning and the other one you hate( Gen. Buhari) because he is not also from your tribe, is a war veteran and reached the pinnacle of his career and 30 years after still returned to be a President.

Achievers like Pantami and PMB you hate did not waste their prime idlying away on the internet and cowardly hiding behind a keyboard to make hate speeches and insult folks old enough to be your grandparents.

I hope you will one day look back, read your comments and realize that every insult you threw online actually manifested in your life so you can tell others who may want to toe your bad path not to do it
Here's free book on business ideas & money sources directory for you,it's 100% free! https://www.nairaland.com/6666800/looking-business-ideas-money-fund. Cheers.

CSTRR:

What of me?
I hate them and it is not because they are not from my tribe.

Go and see the cost of goods in the market.
Inflation is 15% right now.
Possibly the third highest in the world.
Higher than in Iran that is under severe sanctions.

What is buhari doing?

Go and see people queueing for fuel and tell me who likes a govt that does that?

jyz200:


The earlier you know prayer can’t solve shit the better for you

dre11:
In September, 2021, Mr Ibrahim was among seven academics who were elevated by the council of FUTO to the position of professorship at the council’s 186th meeting.
Such aberration can only happen in the Southeastern University where prices are laid on them for hatchet job.
He chose FUTO because these people can sell their mother for a pot of porridge.
The love of money should have bounds!!!





https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/511986-alleged-illegal-professorship-pantami-reacts-to-asuus-verdict.html


Previous threads
https://www.nairaland.com/6986089/ASUU-declares-pantamis-professorship-illegal
And
https://www.nairaland.com/6987630/futo-sues-ASUU-over-pantamis