Governor’s aide condemns professorship conferment on commissioner by University of Calabar

The promotion of the Commissioner for Aviation in Cross River Jake Otu Enyia to associate professor has been faulted by the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Forestry Security, Mr. Joseph Obi through a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi.

In the letter sighted by pressmen in Calabar on Wednesday, the SA condemned Enyia’s promotion to Associate Professor of law on the grounds that due process was not followed and added to the fact that he has no requisite qualification to be a staff of the university.

According to him, the move violates article 3.9 Sub (3) of the university condition of service rules where it is specifically states that a staff under appointment must undergo two years probation before confirmation for appointment. Against this pedestal, he said Jake Otu Enyia is not qualified.

He further noted: “This is a violation of article 3.11 Sub (1) which states that staff is only eligible for promotion after confirmation of appointment.

And doubling down, he argued that Sub (V) of the institutions condition of service rules states that staff in leave of absence shall be entitled to only one promotion if qualified, but the question here is, how did a staff that only spent 3 months and 22 days without probation or confirmation, qualify for promotion from the rank of lecturer I to Senior lecturer to Reader and now Associate Professor?

Mr. Obi said, “I am convinced that the above can only happen where the facts and documents are hidden from your sight. Permit me to say here that I believe the university is a compendium of universal ideals aimed at shaping society”.

“if this is true, it is important that a violation of this height of desperation be given a timely consideration by the Vice-Chancellor in my query over the unwholesome development in the university system”.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)