A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Industrial and Commercial Law, Joe Abugu, said yesterday that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has no powers to declare the professorial rank conferred on Communications and Digital Economy Minister Isa Ali Pantami, by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), illegal.

Abugu, who is a lecturer in the University of Lagos, ASUU has no role whatsoever in the conferment of professorship by Nigerian Universities.

The National Executive Committee of ASUU had set aside the report of its FUTO chapter which had endorsed the procedure for the conferment of Pantami’s professorial rank.


In a position paper entitled: “Of University Autonomy, Meddlesomeness of ASUU and its War Against Prof. Ibrahim Isa Pantami,” Abugu said the local chapter of ASUU did an excellent job in reminding the public that FUTO duly advertised the vacant positions in credible national dailies.

He said when Pantami applied the relevant bodies vetted his credentials and gave him the appointment on merit.

He said all over the world and in Nigeria in particular, there are no strict general rules guiding the procedure for professorial appointment which universities in a country must obey.

He said each institution of learning sets its own rules and Vice Chancellors have certain discretionary powers to use when necessary.


He said there is even nowhere in the statute books where ASUU is mentioned as an important decision or opinion making body in the procedure of appointing university professors.

Abugu said: “By section 3 of the Federal Universities of Technology Act 1993, the University shall have ‘power to inter alia institute professorships, readerships or associate professorships, lecturer-ships, and other posts and offices and to make appointments thereto; and by section 6, the Council shall be the governing body of the University and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the University’

“It is clear therefore, that ASUU has no power to institute or confer professorship. It is noteworthy that the University Council comprises two representatives of the congregation of teachers.

“Whilst the Congregation is the body of academics in the University, it is not synonymous with ASUU.

“It can be taken for granted though that through these representatives of Congregation, ASUU may have a voice in the conferment of Professorships but not ASUU as a Union.

“Can ASUU then have power to declare a Professorship conferred by an institution illegal? The answer may probably be found in the Rule book or Constitution of ASUU.

“As a registered trade union under the Trade Union Act, its Rule book neither contains any clause conferring powers of certification of academic titles nor the power to declare one, illegal.”

On whether Pantami was qualified for the appointment while serving as minister, Abugu noted that the argument was watery and flowed from ignorance.

According to Professor Abugu, there is no precedent for ASUU or any trade union at all meddling in the internal affairs of universities,

He said there are a lot of verifiable and reliable precedents in the country for ministers and other government officials who got professorial appointments while on study leave or leave of absence from the respective universities where they were teaching.

He listed some prominent Nigerians including late Dora Akunyili,, Jerry Gana, Muhammad Ali Pate, etc, as beneficiaries of the same privilege for which he claimed Pantami is now being slaughtered by ASUU.

He insisted that Pantami’s professorship rank has been legally and legitimately earned.

He said ASUU’s take on the integrity of the procedure has no basis in law, precedent, morality and logic.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ASUU-lacks-powers-to-declare-pantamis-professorial-elevation-illegal-says-don/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjQ2eqloY72AhVIzIUKHd_FCQ0QFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3-PYhnzw-Jh_ws_S_I-Uxt

Mynd44
Fergie001
Adegbaraogboye
Helinues
Abujason
Jrusky
Jaxxy

Legally speaking, I believe he's correct. Nigerians don't like Pantami because of his erstwhile sympathy for Islamic terrorists but we don't have to throw the baby away with the bath water.

Senior Advocate of Nonsense.

Foolish lawyer

madrasc:
Legally speaking, I believe he's correct. Nigerians don't like Pantami because of his erstwhile sympathy for Islamic terrorists but we don't have to throw the baby away with the bath water.

Forget that grammer u posted, Pantami isn't qualified to be promoted to the rank of a Professor based on University academic staff appraisal requirements. ASUU, a body made of University academics in Nigeria have independently reviewed the issue and faulted his promotion. He can parade himself as a Prof in his local mosque, but not in the assembly of intellectuals.

Degree cert is CHEAP in some Uni

madrasc:
Legally speaking, I believe he's correct. Nigerians don't like Pantami because of his erstwhile sympathy for Islamic terrorists but we don't have to throw the baby away with the bath water.

True.you have said it all

Should be his greatest achievement so far ....

Just imagine this boy!!

garfield1, may I ask why you have been running from pillar to post to defend the fraudfessorship of Pantami?

Are you his boy o boy or his house nigger?

That said, ASUU as a body of academics has the right to offer its advice or opinion on matters that have to do with the running of universities and the academia.

As a matter of fact, Rule 2 of the ASUU constitution states one of its objectives as "Establishment and maintenance of a high standard of academic performance and professional practice."

This implies that ASUU has an interest on how the academic profession is practiced and has a duty to protect it.

I am also sure you're one of those who hailed El-Rufai when he conducted a test for the teachers in Kaduna without the TRCN's approval and deemed some worthy of being teachers and others unworthy and thus fired. May I ask you if the Governor of a state is constitutionally empowered to determine the qualification of teachers?

Note also that Abugu left the meat of the matter which ASUU raised which is the requirements for becoming a professor and also the fact that he is presently on appointment as a minister with the govt.
The argument that some people also benefitted such in the past is invalid as you should know series of successful robberies does not make robberies legal.

SmartProf:

Forget that grammer u posted, Pantami isn't qualified to be promoted to the rank of a Professor based on University academic staff appraisal requirements. ASUU, a body made of University academics in Nigeria have independently reviewed the issue and faulted his promotion. He can parade himself as a Prof in his local mosque, but not in the assembly of intellectuals.

ASUU are simply attacking the fg through pantami.did you even investigate the issues raised by the prrof?

It is unfortunate that ASUU is behaving like illiterates.
Agreed that it is bad optics to promote a terrorist sympathiser as a professor but it is NOT illegal.

Instead of ASUU to state their real reasons they are busy making stupid noise to fool the gullible.
What is even more surprising is ASUU investigating an issue that is outside of their union mandate.

ivolt:
It is unfortunate that ASUU is behaving like illiterates.
Agreed that it is bad optics to promote a terrorist sympathiser as a professor but it is NOT illegal.

Instead of ASUU to state their real reasons they are busy making stupid noise to fool the gullible.
What is even more surprising is ASUU investigating an issue that is outside of their union mandate.

It is not outside their mandate.

Anything affecting the profession of academic practice is within their mandate as their constitution provides

What If it was a university that was not under ASUU that gave him the professorship, what would have ASUU done? Let's say a university like RSU

Agbegbaorogboye:
Just imagine this boy!!

garfield1, may I ask why you have been running from pillar to post to defend the fraudfessorship of Pantami?

Are you his boy o boy or his house nigger?

That said, ASUU as a body of academics has the right to offer its advice or opinion on matters that have to do with the running of universities and the academia.

As a matter of fact, Rule 2 of the ASUU constitution states one of its objectives as "Establishment and maintenance of a high standard of academic performance and professional practice."

This implies that ASUU has an interest on how the academic profession is practiced and has a duty to protect it.

I am also sure you're one of those who hailed El-Rufai when he conducted a test for the teachers in Kaduna without the TRCN's approval and deemed some worthy of being teachers and others unworthy and thus fired. May I ask you if the Governor of a state is constitutionally empowered to determine the qualification of teachers?

Note also that Abugu left the meat of the matter which ASUU raised which is the requirements for becoming a professor and also the fact that he is presently on appointment as a minister with the govt.
The argument that some people also benefitted such in the past is invalid as you should know series of successful robberies does not make robberies legal.

Oga,your arguments are wwatery and will never stand anywhere including the court of morality... Legally,ASUU has no business with conferment of prof.it is purely between governing councils and nuc.your analogy of el rufai is farfetched.Kaduna state government is an employer of labour and therefore has all the rights to demand for certain criterion. ASUU is not an employer and therefore can do little. Don't mistake ASUU for NBA.
ASUU main problem is not even with his qualifications but with him being a minister and a prof which is neither here nor there.senator sandy onor was made a prof last year and ASUU raised no eyebrows.

The summary is that he is a prof and he has added it to his titles,ASUU can do nothing about it.the court will surely put the final nail

garfield1:


Oga,your arguments are wwatery and will never stand anywhere including the court of morality... Legally,ASUU has no business with conferment of prof.it is purely between governing councils and nuc.your analogy of el rufai is farfetched.Kaduna state government is an employer of labour and therefore has all the rights to demand for certain criterion. ASUU is not an employer and therefore can do little. Don't mistake ASUU for NBA.
ASUU main problem is not even with his qualifications but with him being a minister and a prof which is neither here nor there.senator sandy onor was made a prof last year and ASUU raised no eyebrows.

The summary is that he is a prof and he has added it to his titles,ASUU can do nothing about it.the court will surely put the final nail

I already quoted for you the aspect of the provisions of ASUU constitution that gives it a standing to take such stand. So the legal aspect is already dealt with. If ASUU chooses not to recognize the fraudfessorship of Pantami, they have the right to do so. You cannot force FUTO or NUC's choice on them.
Kaduna state government is not a decider of who is fit to teach and who isn't and it was made clear to them during El-Rufai's misadventure. Your analogy is just like saying since Banks have the right to employ whoever they like as staff, Banks also have the right to decide who is an accountant and who is not. Well, they don't. And that's the point. El-Rufai and KSG can employ whoever they want as a teacher. But they can't decide who qualifies as a teacher and who doesn't. I hope you can spot the difference.

ASUU's main problem is with his qualification as well as his double appointment. Don't obfuscate facts!!

This fraud of a lawyer deliberately and criminally circumvented FUTO's guidelines on the promotion and appointment of professor, and impotently focused on a straw man's argument he created to mask the academic fraud committed by FUTO. The crux of the issue remains that Pantamine isn't qualified, by FUTO's very own standard, to be either promoted as or appointed professor.

garfield1:




A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Industrial and Commercial Law, Joe Abugu, said yesterday that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has no powers to declare the professorial rank conferred on Communications and Digital Economy Minister Isa Ali Pantami, by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), illegal.

Abugu, who is a lecturer in the University of Lagos, ASUU has no role whatsoever in the conferment of professorship by Nigerian Universities.

The National Executive Committee of ASUU had set aside the report of its FUTO chapter which had endorsed the procedure for the conferment of Pantami’s professorial rank.


In a position paper entitled: “Of University Autonomy, Meddlesomeness of ASUU and its War Against Prof. Ibrahim Isa Pantami,” Abugu said the local chapter of ASUU did an excellent job in reminding the public that FUTO duly advertised the vacant positions in credible national dailies.

He said when Pantami applied the relevant bodies vetted his credentials and gave him the appointment on merit.

He said all over the world and in Nigeria in particular, there are no strict general rules guiding the procedure for professorial appointment which universities in a country must obey.

He said each institution of learning sets its own rules and Vice Chancellors have certain discretionary powers to use when necessary.


He said there is even nowhere in the statute books where ASUU is mentioned as an important decision or opinion making body in the procedure of appointing university professors.

Abugu said: “By section 3 of the Federal Universities of Technology Act 1993, the University shall have ‘power to inter alia institute professorships, readerships or associate professorships, lecturer-ships, and other posts and offices and to make appointments thereto; and by section 6, the Council shall be the governing body of the University and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the University’

“It is clear therefore, that ASUU has no power to institute or confer professorship. It is noteworthy that the University Council comprises two representatives of the congregation of teachers.

“Whilst the Congregation is the body of academics in the University, it is not synonymous with ASUU.

“It can be taken for granted though that through these representatives of Congregation, ASUU may have a voice in the conferment of Professorships but not ASUU as a Union.

“Can ASUU then have power to declare a Professorship conferred by an institution illegal? The answer may probably be found in the Rule book or Constitution of ASUU.

“As a registered trade union under the Trade Union Act, its Rule book neither contains any clause conferring powers of certification of academic titles nor the power to declare one, illegal.”

On whether Pantami was qualified for the appointment while serving as minister, Abugu noted that the argument was watery and flowed from ignorance.

According to Professor Abugu, there is no precedent for ASUU or any trade union at all meddling in the internal affairs of universities,

He said there are a lot of verifiable and reliable precedents in the country for ministers and other government officials who got professorial appointments while on study leave or leave of absence from the respective universities where they were teaching.

He listed some prominent Nigerians including late Dora Akunyili,, Jerry Gana, Muhammad Ali Pate, etc, as beneficiaries of the same privilege for which he claimed Pantami is now being slaughtered by ASUU.

He insisted that Pantami’s professorship rank has been legally and legitimately earned.

He said ASUU’s take on the integrity of the procedure has no basis in law, precedent, morality and logic.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ASUU-lacks-powers-to-declare-pantamis-professorial-elevation-illegal-says-don/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjQ2eqloY72AhVIzIUKHd_FCQ0QFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3-PYhnzw-Jh_ws_S_I-Uxt

Mynd44
Fergie001
Adegbaraogboye
Helinues
Abujason
Jrusky
Jaxxy

Olodo lawyer. You cannot be appointed as professor while still holding a public office.

garfield1:


Oga,your arguments are wwatery and will never stand anywhere including the court of morality... Legally,ASUU has no business with conferment of prof.it is purely between governing councils and nuc.your analogy of el rufai is farfetched.Kaduna state government is an employer of labour and therefore has all the rights to demand for certain criterion. ASUU is not an employer and therefore can do little. Don't mistake ASUU for NBA.
ASUU main problem is not even with his qualifications but with him being a minister and a prof which is neither here nor there.senator sandy onor was made a prof last year and ASUU raised no eyebrows.

The summary is that he is a prof and he has added it to his titles,ASUU can do nothing about it.the court will surely put the final nail

What is different between ASUU and NBA. ASUU, NBA and NMA are in the same league of professional bodies.

The sad part about this is that futo doesn't have a course structure in communications and cyber security. Yet the vc gave pantami a professorial chair knowing fully well that he won't be called to teach the course on excuse the school is still developing the syllabus

Fake professor.

Agbegbaorogboye:


It is not outside their mandate.

Anything affecting the profession of academic practice is within their mandate as their constitution provides

ASUU is a union and not part of university administration.
It is unrecognised as far as university management is concerned.

It is just like NLC investigating and declaring a decision of FG as being illegal because they
don't like it. Such grandstanding may sit well with the ignorant but those who know will
be laughing hard.
The worst they can do is blackmail via strike action.

Agbegbaorogboye:


I already quoted for you the aspect of the provisions of ASUU constitution that gives it a standing to take such stand. So the legal aspect is already dealt with. If ASUU chooses not to recognize the fraudfessorship of Pantami, they have the right to do so. You cannot force FUTO or NUC's choice on them.
Kaduna state government is not a decider of who is fit to teach and who isn't and it was made clear to them during El-Rufai's misadventure. Your analogy is just like saying since Banks have the right to employ whoever they like as staff, Banks also have the right to decide who is an accountant and who is not. Well, they don't. And that's the point. El-Rufai and KSG can employ whoever they want as a teacher. But they can't decide who qualifies as a teacher and who doesn't. I hope you can spot the difference.

ASUU's main problem is with his qualification as well as his double appointment. Don't obfuscate facts!!

I can reproduce ASUU president statement here,he never raised any issue about his qualifications.ASUU can reject him or say anything they like but it holds no water.it remains their opinion.the crux of the matter is that ASUU doesn't confer professorship...
Pantami was lecturing in abtu before he was appointed nitda DG.he obtained leave of absence from abtu before assuming his new office. He now transferred his services to futo and then obtained leave of absence again to take over the ministerial office.ASUU has no point,they can have their say but futo will have their way.

joyandfaith:

What is different between ASUU and NBA. ASUU, NBA and NMA are in the same league of professional bodies.

They are not.NBA have the sole rights of making a lawyer SAN,ASUU have no ssay in who becomes prof

mrblessed:
This fraud of a lawyer deliberately and criminally circumvented FUTO's guidelines on the promotion and appointment of professor, and impotently focused on a straw man's argument he created to mask the academic fraud committed by FUTO. The crux of the issue remains that Pantamine isn't qualified, by FUTO's very own standard, to be either promoted as or appointed professor.

And futo says pantami is qualified.so who are you

garfield1:



I can reproduce ASUU president statement here,he never raised any issue about his qualifications.ASUU can reject him or say anything they like but it holds no water.it remains their opinion.the crux of the matter is that ASUU doesn't confer professorship...
Pantami was lecturing in abtu before he was appointed nitda DG.he obtained leave of absence from abtu before assuming his new office. He now transferred his services to futo and then obtained leave of absence again to take over the ministerial office.ASUU has no point,they can have their say but futo will have their way.

Pls reproduce the statement!!

You seem to know more than anyone else!! All this leave of absence etc. When did it happen. Again, how can you transfer your services while you're on leave or is it that you don't know what leave means? So in effect, he transferred his services to FUTO on leave and remained on leave at FUTO too? What manner of fraud is this i'm reading? I suggest you stop defending the guy. You're making his case worse.

ASUU will have their say and FUTO will have their way but his professorship will remain stained. That is the point. It may not even be recognized by some universities both within and outside the country.

ivolt:

ASUU is a union and not part of university administration.
It is unrecognised as far as university management is concerned.

It is just like NLC investigating and declaring a decision of FG as being illegal because they
don't like it. Such grandstanding may sit well with the ignorant but those who know will
be laughing hard.
The worst they can do is blackmail via strike action.

Yet NLC is the reason why FG have not been able to increase fuel price while they were consulted before electricity tariffs where increased.
It seems you do not understand what a trade union stands for.
Besides, ASUU is a body of academics and even Abugu understands that very much. Even the VC is a member of ASUU.
This is just like saying NMA does not have a say in what qualifies one to be a doctor.

garfield1:


They are not.[s]NBA have the sole rights of making a lawyer SAN[/s],ASUU have no ssay in who becomes prof

That's not true!! I thought you're a lawyer?

Agbegbaorogboye:

Pls reproduce the statement!!

You seem to know more than anyone else!! All this leave of absence etc. When did it happen. Again, how can you transfer your services while you're on leave or is it that you don't know what leave means? So in effect, he transferred his services to FUTO on leave and remained on leave at FUTO too? What manner of fraud is this i'm reading? I suggest you stop defending the guy. You're making his case worse.

ASUU will have their say and FUTO will have their way but his professorship will remain stained. That is the point. It may not even be recognized by some universities both within and outside the country.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has faulted the promotion of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, as a professor.

The union after its National Executive Council meeting declared the promotion as “illegal”.

This was declared at a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.

He 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.”





Now,according to MURIC,they said their findings showed that only unilorin and uniport prevents promotions while on leave of absence.infact,in unical and uniuyo,I know a lot of lecturers while serving as commissioner and traditional rulers still found time to lecture.....


The question we should be asking is how did senator sandy onor become a professor while serving as a senator?

Agbegbaorogboye:


That's not true!! I thought you're a lawyer?

Up pantami

garfield1:


Up pantami

How does his ass taste in your mouth?

Agbegbaorogboye:


How does his ass taste in your mouth?

Seems you have accepted his professorship this one that you are focusing on mundane and none issues

garfield1:


They are not.NBA have the sole rights of making a lawyer SAN,ASUU have no ssay in who becomes prof

Based on which law.

jmoore:
Senior Advocate of Nonsense.

Foolish lawyer

Enwekwara ihe ozo idi nma ya?