A former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has faulted the Academic Staff Union of the Universities, ASUU, for setting up a committee to investigate the award of professor of Cyber Security to minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.
In a viral tweet on Tuesday, the former minister who recently defected to the ruling APC, said the minister was qualified to be appointed a professor.
“What has Isa Pantami done to ASUU? When will the hatred stop? Is it because he is Muslim? I know Pantami well & he is eminently qualified to be a Professor. Let us be guided by love & not hate. Lies, disinformation, prejudice & religious bigotry has blinded many in our country,” he said.
In September, the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, announced the promotion of Mr Pantami, alongside seven other Readers (Associate Professors), by the university’s governing council at its 186th meeting held on Friday, August 20, 2021.
But the announcement caused a social media stir, with many questioning Mr Pantami’s qualification and years of service for professorial promotion.
A local chapter of ASUU in the university last week gave Mr Pantami a clean bill, saying the minister went through rigorous processes before his appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity.
Apparently dissatisfied with the local chapter findings, the national headquarters of ASUU on Monday announced the setting up of an independent panel to investigate the matter.
