By Leonard Okachie
A senior lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr Philips Nto, says petitioning President Bola Tinubu was his last resort over delayed promotion.
Nto told journalists on Tuesday in Umudike he was responding to claims that he bypassed due process and failed to exhaust internal remedies.
The Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman, Mr Fidelis Edeh, had alleged that Nto jumped procedures in seeking presidential intervention.
That Nto’s promotion to professor, due in 2021, has remained unresolved, sparking prolonged controversy.
Nto said the President, as Visitor to the university, was his final arbiter, accusing Edeh of frustrating all efforts to resolve the matter.
“President Tinubu is the employer of both Comrade Fidelis Edeh and the council.
“And since they ignored my cries for years, I had no option but to petition the highest authority.
“Except they are now higher than the President,” he submitted.
Nto described Edeh’s explanations for the delay as contradictory and confusing.
“The Chairman said my name was not among 68 candidates submitted by the Vice-Chancellor.
“In the same breath, he claimed my promotion was stood down over objections by a council member.
“From these contradictions, is it not obvious I am being victimised?” he asked.
He also questioned threats of disciplinary action against him for petitioning the President.
“The idea of threatening me for inviting Mr President is what I don’t understand,” he said.
Nto faulted Edeh’s claim that a professor opposing his promotion represented ASUU on the council.
“There is nothing like ASUU representation on the governing council,” he said.
He alleged that the professor was a tool to deny him promotion.
Nto noted that the professor participated throughout the assessment process without earlier objections.
He also queried why the council chairman rejected favourable recommendations by the council’s promotion committee.
“The Vice-Chancellor has said his committee recommended my promotion, but Edeh is withholding it,” he said.
Responding to claims he taught while on leave, Nto said the assignment was officially approved by university management.
“The university wrote to me because I am the only agribusiness risk management expert.
“They also used me to secure accreditation for the college,” Nto said.
He questioned whether the university could overturn decisions of previous managements retroactively.
The former Abia finance commissioner urged President Tinubu to direct the release of his promotion to professor with effect from 2021.
