The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the strike threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, over the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land to private developers and government agencies.
Speaking during his monthly media chat on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Wike questioned the union’s authority to challenge land allocation decisions, insisting that land administration in the FCT falls under the responsibility of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
He rejected ASUU’s allegation of land grabbing and argued that the union had no legal authority over land matters or the administration of the FCT master plan. He also questioned why a university should retain thousands of hectares, particularly when large portions remained undeveloped.
Wike maintained that the FCTA’s actions complied with government policy and urban planning regulations, adding that federal institutions must provide proper documentation, approvals and evidence of land use before laying claim to large areas.
The minister said the administration would not be intimidated by threats of industrial action or legal proceedings, declaring that the FCTA was prepared to defend its decisions in court. He also accused the union’s leadership of using strike threats to pressure the government.
The dispute followed a warning by ASUU’s University of Abuja chapter chairman, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the minister failed to reverse the disputed allocations in the Giri District.
ASUU said the 11,824 hectares originally allocated to the university were essential for its future expansion, agricultural research and infrastructure development. The union has threatened both industrial and legal action to compel the FCTA to reverse the allocations, but Wike insisted that the government would proceed with its land recovery and reallocation policy.
