The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Maiduguri chapter, has vowed to challenge in court the Federal Government’s decision to rename the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The union, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairperson, Abubakar Mshelia, and Assistant Secretary, Peter Teri, said it “vehemently rejected and strongly condemned” the move, describing it as arbitrary and lacking in consultation.
In a resolution reached after an emergency congress held on July 24, 2025, which was attended by ASUU members, representatives of the Student Union Government, and other critical stakeholders, the union said: “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.
“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.”
ASUU-UNIMAID described the Federal Government’s decision as “ill-conceived, arbitrary, and devoid of meaningful consultation with the university community, alumni, relevant stakeholders, and the general public.”
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It added that the development reflected a “troubling disregard for due process and stakeholder engagement in governance.”
The statement noted that the ASUU-UNIMAID executive committee had been given a mandate to “explore all available legal avenues to challenge the renaming decision and ensure that the university’s original identity is preserved.”
The union also called on 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.
“The union demands that the autonomy and integrity of public universities must be upheld without political interference,” it added.
In a similar stance, the Alumni and students at the University of Maiduguri as well as concerned citizens of Borno State have rejected the renaming of the institution to Muhammadu Buhari University by President Bola Tinubu to immortalise the immediate past President.
Projecting their argument, the groups said the University of Maiduguri is more than just a name, as it is a powerful symbol of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage — especially in the face of insecurity that once threatened the North-East region.
They, therefore, recommended that President Tinubu rename either the Federal University of transportation, Daura or the Army University Biu after the late leader due to his ancestral links and background as a former military officer.
This was contained in a public petition soliciting support from the public to sign up supporting the protest by the alumni and students’ groups.
So far, about nine thousand people have signed the petition which has been trending within the past 48 hours.
Credible News reports that President Tinubu on Thursday, July 17 at an expanded FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja announced the renaming of the University after Buhari in honour of the former Nigerian leader.
