The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) threat to embark on strike over the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land, insisting that the union has no authority over land administration in the FCT.
Wike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was legally empowered to determine land ownership and allocation, dismissing ASUU’s allegations of land grabbing.
The minister spoke during his monthly media chat on Thursday, where he questioned the union’s involvement in the dispute.
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“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 argued that the government had a responsibility to ensure proper utilisation of land in the territory, questioning why the university should retain thousands of hectares without adequate development.
He said the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land was part of efforts to enforce urban planning regulations, promote development and ensure compliance with the FCT master plan.
The minister also dismissed the union’s threat to seek legal redress, saying the FCTA was prepared to defend its decisions in court.
He faulted the use of strike threats to pressure 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’s 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 land allocations.
Ugoh said the university was originally allocated 11,824 hectares of land in Guri District of the FCT, describing the area as critical to its 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 property must be protected from encroachment.
However, Wike maintained that the FCTA would continue to exercise its statutory responsibilities over land administration in the territory.
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