The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter, have rejected the Federal Government’s decision to rename the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu, announced on July 17 that UNIMAID would be renamed Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri, in honour of the late former president, who died on July 13 at the age of 82 and was buried in Daura, Katsina State, on July 15.
Speaking with reporters after a congress meeting in Maiduguri on Wednesday, UNIMAID ASUU chairman, Dr. Abubakar Saidu, said the decision disregarded university autonomy and academic freedom.
He noted that the name University of Maiduguri carries decades of identity, scholarship and service to the northeast and the country, adding that renaming it without consultation with the governing council, staff, students, alumni and host community undermines the institution’s legacy.
“To erase that legacy without engagement is to insult the very soul of this institution,” Dr. Saidu said.
Earlier, on July 20, the union had also issued a statement describing the renaming as politically motivated and harmful to the university’s history.
“UNIMAID is not just a name, it represents decades of academic excellence, resilience, and national relevance,” ASUU stated.
“UNIMAID is not a political souvenir to be handed out. Political interests must not be allowed to override the nation’s educational heritage.”
The union disclosed that it was mobilising members and veterans to resist the move.
“The response of the union will be unequivocal, forceful, and commanding,” Saidu said.
ASUU also called on Nigerians, including scholars, alumni and civil society, to oppose the decision, which it described as a precedent that elevates political patronage above academic integrity.
Meanwhile, at the FEC session where the announcement was made, President Tinubu paid tribute to Buhari, describing him as a man of discipline and patriotism.
He recalled their political partnership that led to the 2015 election, which brought Buhari to power.
Tinubu said Buhari’s leadership during his tenure was marked by restraint and a focus on service, particularly in the northeast through military intervention, humanitarian support and infrastructure projects.
The renaming of UNIMAID is part of broader federal government plans to honour the late president.