The administration of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has denied allegations that it threatened to revoke Inuwa Kashifu, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agencycertificate. ,'s (NITDA).
The official allegedly faced a threat as a result of comments made on the integrity evaluations for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), a payment system created by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Kashifu never participated in any academic programme at the university, according to ABU Director of Public Affairs Auwalu Umar.
The DG holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi and has certifications in leadership, innovation, telecommunications, service management, networking and solutions design.
Some were obtained from Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, Oxford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A statement by Umar noted that at no time did ABU management issue a threat to revoke the official’s degree.
“After all, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, from records available, never attended Ahmadu Bello University for any academic programme, be it undergraduate, graduate or sub-degree”, it reads.
It was discovered that the threat letter over UTAS was issued by ASUU-ATBU Branch, and signed by Ibrahim Inuwa and Muhammad Muhammad.
They said after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on March 9, 2022, Kashifu implied that UTAS failed the vulnerability test (security integrity), User Acceptance Test (UAT), and stress load test, as well as the hardware requirements.
Reacting, the Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR) described ASUU’s move as “laughable and ill-advised.”
The spokesperson, Bello Shehu wondered why the NITDA chief was being targeted “for discharging his duties”
“In a desperate bid to blackmail a public official into lowering the bars of his mandate and succumbing to selfish inclinations, ASUU has resorted to threats.
“Has the union now usurped the mandate of the University Senate in awarding degree certificates?
“Is there a legally recognised marriage of convenience between labour unionism and the award of degree certificates in ATBU?
“Isn’t ASUU overstepping its boundaries and arrogating to itself an authority outside its jurisdiction,” Shehu asked.