The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the threat by the University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on an industrial action over the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land to private developers and government agencies.
Wike insisted that ASUU had no authority over land ownership or allocation in the FCT, maintaining that such responsibilities fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The minister spoke on Thursday during his monthly media chat, where he questioned the union’s involvement in the dispute and rejected allegations that the government was engaging in land grabbing.
“What is the business of ASUU on our land? How is ASUU the owner of land? Is ASUU the owner of the union in Nigeria now? Is it the union’s right?” he asked.
Wike also questioned the justification for allowing the university to retain thousands of hectares of land without adequate development, arguing that the government had a responsibility to ensure proper land use and compliance with the FCT master plan.
He defended the administration’s decision to reallocate portions of the university’s land, describing it as part of efforts to enforce urban planning regulations and promote development across the territory.
The minister further dismissed the union’s threat to challenge the decision in court, saying the FCTA was prepared to defend its actions if legal proceedings were instituted.
He also faulted the use of strike threats as a means of mounting pressure on the government, insisting that the administration would not yield to what he described as blackmail.
The dispute followed a recent press conference by the Chairman of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, who warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony on the campus if the minister failed to reverse the disputed land allocations.
Ugoh said the university was originally allocated 11,824 hectares of land in the Guri District of the FCT, describing the area as critical to the institution’s long-term expansion, agricultural research and infrastructure development.
The union expressed concern over the allocation of portions of the land to private developers and government agencies, insisting that the university’s land should be protected against encroachment.
However, Wike maintained that land administration in the FCT remained the statutory responsibility of the FCTA, stressing that the government would continue to make decisions on land recovery and allocation in accordance with its legal responsibilities.
