Outrage As ASUU Rejects Renaming UNIMAID After Buhari — Vows To Drag FG To Court
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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri chapter, has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s decision to rename the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the move as “strongly condemned and completely unacceptable.”
In a statement released on Friday, July 25, 2025, and signed by the branch Chairperson, Abubakar Mshelia, and Assistant Secretary, Peter Teri, ASUU made its stance clear following an emergency congress held on July 24.
According to the union, the congress—attended by ASUU members, Student Union Government representatives, and other critical stakeholders—unanimously demanded an “immediate and unconditional reversal” of the name change.
“After extensive deliberation, the congress resolved to vehemently oppose and forcefully denounce the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri,” the statement read.
ASUU-UNIMAID described the renaming as a blatant violation of university autonomy, an assault on longstanding academic traditions, and an affront to the university’s shared identity and legacy.
The union criticized the Federal Government for making such a decision without proper consultation, especially considering the university’s over 50-year history. It slammed the action as “hasty, ill-advised, and devoid of transparent stakeholder engagement.”
“This decision reflects a worrying pattern of governance that ignores established procedures and disrespects institutional stakeholders,” the statement added.
ASUU further revealed that its executive council has been authorized to initiate legal proceedings aimed at nullifying the renaming. It vowed to pursue all legal avenues to protect the institution’s original name and uphold the autonomy of Nigeria’s public universities.
The union also called on other ASUU chapters, zonal structures, and the national body to stand firm against any legislative efforts by the National Assembly to legitimize the name change.
Reiterating its position, ASUU-UNIMAID insisted that public institutions of learning must remain free from political manipulation and warned against future attempts to rename universities without comprehensive public input.
“The autonomy and integrity of public universities must be preserved and protected from political intrusion,” the union concluded.
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