The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri chapter, has strongly condemned the decision by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to rename the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari, pledging to challenge the move in court.
In a statement released on Friday, July 26, 2025, and signed by the chapter’s Chairperson, Abubakar Mshelia, and Assistant Secretary, Peter Teri, the union described the renaming as an assault on university autonomy and academic heritage.
The statement followed an emergency congress held on July 24, 2025, which brought together ASUU members, representatives of the Student Union Government (SUG), and other critical stakeholders of the university community.
“Following extensive discussions, the congress unanimously resolved to vehemently reject and strongly condemn the decision to rename the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri,” the union said.
ASUU-UNIMAID argued that changing the name of the university after over 50 years of existence, represents a violation of academic tradition and institutional identity.
“Congress views any attempt to rename the University of Maiduguri after 50 years of esteemed existence as a flagrant disregard for university autonomy, a disruption of cherished academic traditions, and a direct affront to the collective heritage and identity of the university community.”
The union further criticized the federal government’s action as lacking transparency and proper stakeholder consultation.
“The decision was ill-conceived, arbitrary, and devoid of meaningful consultation with the university community, alumni, relevant stakeholders, and the general public.”
ASUU emphasized that the move illustrates a worrying trend of sidelining due process and ignoring the input of key actors in university governance.
“It further described the move as a “troubling disregard for due process and stakeholder engagement in governance.”
To counter the renaming, ASUU-UNIMAID disclosed that its executive committee had been empowered to seek legal redress.
The union announced that the ASUU-UNIMAID executive committee had been mandated to “explore all available legal avenues to challenge the renaming decision and ensure that the university’s original identity is preserved.”
In addition, ASUU called on its national structure and allied organizations to build collective resistance to the decision.
It also urged ASUU branches, zones, and the national body to engage the National Assembly, civil society organisations, students, and other relevant actors to resist any legislative attempt to endorse the name change.
Reiterating its stance, the union insisted that academic institutions must remain free from political manipulation.
“The union demands that the autonomy and integrity of public universities must be upheld without political interference,” it added.
The congress concluded by calling for the complete withdrawal of the proposed renaming.
It said after extensive deliberation, the congress unanimously demanded “the immediate and unconditional reversal” of the renaming decision.
