![ATBU Threatens to Withdraw NITDA’s DG Certificate Over UTAS Controversy, HOTPEN](https://hotpen.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/NITDA-DG-Kashifu-Inuwa-A.jpg)
By Our Correspondent
HOTPEN – Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi branch on Thursday threatened to initiate process of withdrawal degree certificate awarded to Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), over stand on UTAS.
In a press statement by the ASUU, ATBU branch signed by the branch Chairman Ibrahim Inuwa and Secretary, Muhammad Muhammad at the end of the meeting of the Executive on Thursday requested Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, to retrace his steps to the path of truth and academic excellence.
The signed statement reads in part “The DG of NITDA is requested to retrace his steps to the path of truth and academic excellence for which the University (ATBU) had awarded him a degree, failure of which the Union will be left with no option but to initiate the process of withdrawal of his degree certificate as an alumnus of ATBU, Bauchi”.
“ASUU ATBU Bauchi is particularly sad that both the Minister of Communications Isa Ali Pantami and DG, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa are products of our prestigious University (ATBU), known for its high standards of learning and discipline”
“Consequently, ASUU-ATBU reminds The DG NITDA that the test on UTAS is a scientific procedure, we therefore urge you to allow a high sense of professionalism and ethics by NITDA Technical Team prevails and not take instructions from above that can compromise the integrity of NITDA as an agency to certify homegrown software technologies” Parts of the statement read.
The union was reacting to claims by the NITDA DG that UTAS developed to replace the controversial IPPIS failed integrity test required before it can be accepted to function.
According to the statement, the Director General (DG) of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa on 9th March 2022 after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the prompting of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami made a claim that implied that the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) had failed integrity test, vulnerability test (security integrity), User Acceptance Test (UAT) and stress load test, as well as the hardware requirements.
“ASUU ATBU Bauchi is not surprise at the calculated attempt by agents of government particularly the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy and DG, NITDA to kill UTAS, a robust home-grown technology suitable for the management of the University System”
“Both men had demonstrated severe nationalism deficiency syndrome in their dealings and handling of critical issues as it concerns their offices and position in government revealing how ill-equipped they are with the current status of public Universities in Nigeria” ASUU ATBU stated
The Union viewed the comments of the DG NITDA as highly misleading, unwarranted and totally unacceptable, saying it is a deliberate act to frustrate the deployment of UTAS.
“We observe that at the time the DG NITDA was making such statements (ie 9th March 2022) he was aware of a joint test of the UTAS application by the ASUU Technical Team and NITDA to iron out discrepancies in the initial NITDA report”.
“The current test was arranged at a meeting involving NITDA, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy. To put the record straight, we are obliged to enlighten the public that UTAS was applauded and received positive commendations at different levels of government during its presentation to the leadership of the National Assembly, Joint Committee of NITDA, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).
” Vice Chancellors and Bursars of Federal Universities (end users), to say the least, UTAS has gone through seven different presentations. Reports from the previous test by NITDA scored UTAS 85% in User Acceptance Test. The question as to where UTAS database will be warehoused had already been resolved by the Joint Technical Committee of both the NITDA and ASUU where it was unanimously agreed that UTAS shall be hosted at the National University Commission (NUC) (based on the University miscellaneous provision act on University Autonomy). We therefore wonder why the unpatriotic DG is misleading the general public by claiming “UTAS does not have database centre” (to host it). The statement further read.