ASUU-UNIMAID to sue Nigerian government over university renaming to Muhammadu Buhari university

The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its intention to take legal action against the Nigerian government following the latter’s decision to rename the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued on Friday, jointly signed by Abubakar Mshelia, Chairperson, and Peter Teri, Assistant Secretary of ASUU-UNIMAID, the union “vehemently rejected and strongly condemned” the government’s decision.

This resolution, the statement noted, was reached after an emergency congress held on July 24, 2025.

The union confirmed that the congress was attended by ASUU members, representatives of the Student Union Government (SUG), and other critical stakeholders, indicating broad opposition to the name change.

Following extensive deliberation, the congress unanimously demanded “the immediate and unconditional reversal” of the renaming decision. “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 stated.

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ASUU-UNIMAID further described the government’s decision as “ill-conceived, arbitrary, and devoid of meaningful consultation with the university community, alumni, relevant stakeholders, and the general public.”

It characterized the move as a “troubling disregard for due process and stakeholder engagement in governance.”

In response, 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.”

The union also called upon ASUU branches, zones, and the national body to engage the National Assembly, civil society organizations, students, and other relevant actors to resist any legislative attempt to endorse the name change.

Concluding its statement, ASUU-UNIMAID emphasized, “The union demands that the autonomy and integrity of public universities must be upheld without political interference.”