17/07/2025
ASUU Strikes Under Buhari and the Renaming of University of Maiduguri
By: The Pen Trust
During the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), Nigeria’s education sector witnessed one of the longest and most frequent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes in the country’s history.
The most notable was the 2022 ASUU strike, which lasted for eight months, from February to October — paralyzing academic activities across federal universities and disrupting the future of millions of students. The strike was rooted in long-standing issues including:
Non-payment of earned academic allowances
Poor funding of universities
Disagreements over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)
Failure to honor previous agreements signed with ASUU
Despite repeated negotiations, the Buhari government was criticized for its lack of urgency, empathy, and political will to resolve the crisis, often responding with court orders instead of solutions.
Tinubu Renames University of Maiduguri After Buhari
In July 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to “Muhammadu Buhari University”—a move that has triggered public outrage and national debate.
Many critics and education stakeholders argue that renaming a prestigious institution after a leader who presided over a period marked by educational decay is a distortion of values. They question:
"How can a man whose government oversaw the longest university shutdown in Nigerian history, and whose administration failed to prioritize the welfare of students and lecturers, be honored with such a symbol of academic excellence?"
While former presidents are often honored for their legacies, associating Muhammadu Buhari with a university—especially in the wake of his controversial handling of ASUU strikes—raises ethical and historical concerns. It sets a precedent where failure is rewarded, and where the pain endured by students and lecturers is forgotten for political symbolism.
The Pen Trust
