Photo: Dr Phillips Nto
By: Mandy Park
The Director of the Agribusiness Incubation Centre at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Dr. Philips Nto, has criticised the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its stance on his delayed promotion to the rank of professor.
Dr. Nto, who has been seeking the release of his promotion since 2021, faulted ASUU’s position that he was not qualified for elevation based on the university’s 2017 Conditions of Service.
He described the union’s argument as rooted in “ignorance, pettiness and nepotism.”
According to him, his leave of absence was governed by the 2003 Conditions of Service, which he said was renewed annually, and therefore questioned the application of the 2017 regulation to his case.
He argued that the newer policy could not be applied retroactively, citing what he described as a legal opinion to that effect by the university’s lawyer.
The former Abia State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning also rejected claims that he was attempting to move directly from senior lecturer to professor without first being promoted to associate professor.
He maintained that he was duly assessed for both ranks, with separate files submitted for consideration in line with established academic procedures.
Dr. Nto expressed concern that despite the Governing Council reportedly sitting on the matter multiple times, no definitive decision had been reached to either approve or reject his promotion.
He said this development compelled him to petition President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Visitor to the university, after exhausting internal mechanisms.
He further alleged personal vendetta by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, claiming that a council committee had recommended his promotion but that the recommendation was not acted upon.
In strong remarks against the local ASUU leadership, Dr. Nto accused the union of bias and acting in concert with the council chairman.
He said he withdrew his membership of the union on August 4, 2025, citing dissatisfaction with its handling of staff welfare issues.
Calling on ASUU’s national leadership to intervene, Dr. Nto urged an investigation into what he termed an “unholy alliance” between the local chapter and the university’s governing authorities.
He also challenged the union’s executives to an open debate on his eligibility for promotion, insisting that due process had been followed.
Addressing criticism over his academic engagements during his leave of absence, he argued that if his actions were deemed invalid, then academic accreditations and certificates of students he supervised during the period should also be questioned.
Dr. Nto reiterated his call on the Governing Council to either approve or formally reject his promotion with clearly stated reasons, stressing that prolonged silence on the matter was unfair and damaging to his academic career.
