Delayed Promotion: Nto’s Recommendation Followed Due Process — MOUAU VC Says Only Council Chairman Can Explain

Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe

The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, has stated that the assessment and recommendation of Dr. Philips Nto for promotion to the rank of professor strictly followed due process and complied with the university’s extant regulations.
Prof. Iwe maintained that only the Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Fidelis Edeh, is in a position to explain why Dr. Nto has yet to be promoted.
Dr. Nto, a senior lecturer at MOUAU, became due for promotion to professor in 2021.
However, his elevation has remained unresolved, generating prolonged controversy within and outside the university community.
At a recent press conference, Mr. Edeh, through a representative, alleged that Dr. Nto had circumvented due process and failed to exhaust the university’s internal mechanisms for resolving his grievances.
Responding to the allegations while speaking with journalists in his office, Prof. Iwe condemned what he described as the growing interference of non-academics in strictly academic matters. He questioned why individuals without academic backgrounds should comment on issues relating to the assessment and promotion of an academic to the rank of professor.
The Vice-Chancellor described as inappropriate the decision by the Pro-Chancellor to delegate a non-academic to address the media on what he termed an exclusively academic issue.
“The person sent by the Pro-Chancellor to address the press on Dr. Nto’s matter is not an academic and does not understand the intricacies of academic assessments and promotions,” “He was, therefore, not competent to speak on the issues.”Prof. Iwe said.
Prof. Iwe also refuted claims by Mr. Edeh that he had failed to present Dr. Nto’s case to the Governing Council.
He explained that university governance is dynamic and that matters relating to appraisal and promotion are routinely presented to the Council’s Appointments and Promotions Committee.
“There is no limit to the number of cases the Council’s Committee on Appointments and Promotions can present, as the Council meets regularly,” “Dr. Nto’s case was presented when it became due and was treated independently of previously submitted cases.”he said.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that Dr. Nto’s appraisal and recommendation for promotion were conducted in accordance with established procedures, beginning at the departmental and college levels before being forwarded to the appropriate council committee.
“What we did in Dr. Nto’s case was done properly. The Council Committee duly recommended him based on submissions from the department and the college,” he stated.
When reminded that the Council Chairman had reportedly said the matter was under investigation, Prof. Iwe said he was unaware of any such inquiry. He further stressed that there was no academic impediment to Dr. Nto’s promotion.
“Whatever is causing the delay — since the matter is still pending — is known only to the Pro-Chancellor,” he said.