By Steve Oko

A lecturer in the Department of Agribusiness Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Dr Philips Nto, has accused the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, of deliberately delaying his promotion to the rank of professor since 2021.

Dr Nto, a former Abia State Commissioner for Finance and Provost of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, said his promotion had passed all statutory academic appraisal committees but was allegedly being stalled at the Governing Council level.

Addressing a press conference in Umuahia on Monday, Dr Nto wondered if the Pro-Chancellor had personal issues against him, claiming that he is being victimised without any justification.

“I won’t know if he came purposely to MOUAU for vendetta; his actions since 2024 suggest that I have been targeted for punishment”, Nto alleged.

When contacted, the Pro-Chancellor said he would not like to join issues with a staff of a university under his supervision.

” I cannot join issues with a staff over internal administrative matter. There are processes through which that can be dealt with “, Edeh said.

Meanwhile, Dr Nto who explained that he joined MOUAU in 2007 as an Assistant Lecturer, said he rose to the position of a Senior Lecturer in 2015, before proceeding on a leave of absence for government service.

Upon return, he applied for promotion in line with the 2003 Conditions of Service.

He said his application was initially rejected under a new policy, despite the fact that he continued teaching, supervising postgraduate students, and contributing to NUC accreditation exercises while on leave.

Dr Nto questioned why the Pro-Chancellor had approved professorial promotions of others, including his juniors, while allegedly sitting on his file without justification.

“Council has met over 10 times, yet my promotion has been deliberately obstructed with shifting excuses,” he said, alleging selective approvals and procedural abuse.

Dr Nto called on the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and the Minister of Education to intervene and ensure the release of his promotion.

He warned that he would seek legal redress if the matter was not resolved.

“I cannot wait indefinitely. If this injustice continues, I will approach the courts for relief,” he said.