By Erewunmi Peace

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 President Muhammadu Buhari.

This announcement, made during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session on July 17, was part of a broader initiative to honor late national figures. However, the decision to rename the University of Maiduguri as “Muhammadu Buhari University” has sparked backlash among stakeholders, particularly the academic staff.

In an official statement, ASUU described the move as a “brazen affront to the identity and legacy of the institution”, warning that it may lead to unrest within the academic community. The union has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, emphasizing that such changes should not be imposed without stakeholder consultation.

“Renaming a university is not a political favor. It’s a decision that should come from within the institution and its community, not from the top down,” said Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Chairman of ASUU-UNIMAID.

ASUU argues that the university’s name is symbolic of its cultural and historical ties to the region and should not be altered to serve political narratives. They also raised concerns about how the name change could affect alumni identity, institutional heritage, and future academic collaborations.

The Education Ministry, however, defended the decision, stating that it was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to honor the late President Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s unity and northern development.

Despite the explanation, ASUU has vowed to mobilize its members and take all necessary legal and institutional steps to prevent the change from taking effect.

As of now, there is no official statement from the university’s governing council or from President Tinubu addressing ASUU’s demand.