Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter, has strongly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement released by the chapter chairman, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, ASUU condemned the move as “politically motivated” and “a shameless affront to the university’s legacy, history, and academic integrity.”
The renaming announcement was made during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting honoring Buhari on July 17. The decision has sparked widespread debate within academic circles, prompting ASUU to convene its Congress, veteran members, and extended executive council to mobilize against what they describe as a “sacrilegious attempt” to alter the institution’s identity.
“This action is not merely shocking; it desecrates the sanctity of our alma mater,” the union declared, particularly as UNIMAID prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. ASUU warned that renaming the university would undermine its hard-earned reputation for political patronage.
The union further noted the growing public outrage over the decision, vowing that ASUU’s response would be “unequivocal, forceful, and commanding.” The statement called for collective resistance through intellectual and factual engagement, urging members and the public to contribute perspectives ahead of crucial deliberations.
“We must articulate our adamant opposition and demand the immediate reversal of this ill-conceived and deeply offensive decision,” the union asserted, highlighting UNIMAID’s status as a premier federal university since its establishment in 1975. Despite the insecurity challenges in Nigeria’s Northeast region, the institution has maintained a record of academic excellence.
Critics of the renaming argue that several public facilities in Borno State already bear Buhari’s name, making the move redundant and politically charged. They warn that such action threatens to dilute the university’s established identity and global academic reputation built over five decades of resilience and scholarly achievement.
Adding to the controversy, data from the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) revealed that between 2015 and 2023, federal universities were shut down for 642 days due to strikes by ASUU—representing 22% of Buhari’s total 2,922 days in office. This means more than one in every five days of his administration was lost to industrial actions, largely over unmet agreements on funding and welfare.
The prolonged shutdowns—nine months in 2020 and eight months in 2022—severely disrupted academic calendars, stranded students, and led to additional financial burdens for families.
Against this backdrop, many critics have labeled the Federal Government’s decision on July 17 to rename UNIMAID as contradictory and insensitive, describing it as a political gesture rather than a step to strengthen the education sector.