The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Owerri, FUTO, Prof. Nnenna Oti, says the university management has sued the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over its rejection of Dr. Isah Ali-Pantami’s promotion to the rank of a professor.
Recall that the union had threatened to sanction FUTO management for approving Mr Pantami as a professor while he is still in Federal Government’s active service as a minister.
But while speaking with The Nation on Monday, the vice-chancellor said that the management are already in court on the matter.
Meanwhile, a senior management worker at the university, who spoke in confidence, told the newspaper that ASUU has no right to dabble into a matter it has no jurisdiction over.
“Just like ASUU does not tell the university council and its Senate who to promote, it cannot tell them the criteria for promoting somebody to rank of professor.
“In law, you cannot withdraw what you don’t have. ASUU does not regulate appointments and promotions.
“Some of these things are derived from NUC guidelines, and every university sets up its standard,” the source said.
