The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that the professorship promotion conferred on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, by the council of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), is illegal and unmerited.

The national president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday, February 14, during a press conference, stated that the minister is not qualified to be a Professor and should not be treated as such. He explained that it was not possible for someone to be a minister and a university lecturer at the same time as that would be an encouragement of illegality.

Osodeke added that Pantami has to quit his job as a minister and be tried for doing double jobs within the same federal system, while the vice-chancellor of FUTO and members of the union involved in Pantami's promotion will be sanctioned. 

In September 2021, Pantami, alongside seven academics were elevated by the council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri to the position of a professorship at its 186th meeting. This led to a controversy as many argued that the Minister was not qualified for the title as he was yet to achieve the necessary requirements.