A senior lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Dr Philips Nto, says his decision to petition President Bola Tinubu over his delayed promotion was a last resort after exhausting all available internal channels.
Nto, who spoke with journalists on Tuesday in Umudike, was reacting to allegations by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Fidelis Edeh, that he bypassed due process in seeking presidential intervention.
Nto’s promotion to the rank of professor, which was due in 2021, has remained unresolved, generating prolonged controversy.
Defending his action, Nto said the President, as the Visitor to the university, remained the final authority in the institution’s affairs, insisting that he was compelled to escalate the matter after years of unsuccessful attempts to resolve it internally.
“President Tinubu is the employer of both Comrade Fidelis Edeh and the council. Since they ignored my cries for years, I had no option but to petition the highest authority,” he said.
He described the council chairman’s explanations for the delay as contradictory, noting that Edeh had claimed his name was not among the 68 candidates submitted by the Vice-Chancellor, while also stating that his promotion was stood down following objections by a council member.
“From these contradictions, is it not obvious I am being victimised?” Nto queried.
He also faulted alleged threats of disciplinary action against him for writing to the President, saying he did not understand why inviting the attention of the Visitor should attract sanctions.
Nto dismissed claims that a professor who opposed his promotion was representing the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the council, stating that there was no provision for ASUU representation on the governing council.
He alleged that the professor in question participated fully in the assessment process without raising objections and accused him of being used to frustrate his promotion.
According to Nto, the Vice-Chancellor had confirmed that the university’s promotion committee recommended his elevation, but that the council chairman was withholding approval.
Responding to allegations that he taught while on leave, Nto said the assignment was officially approved by the university management, adding that he was invited because he is the institution’s only agribusiness risk management expert.
He said his involvement also contributed to securing accreditation for the college.
Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance in Abia, called on President Tinubu to direct the release of his promotion to professor with effect from 2021.