FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has dismissed a threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UniAbuja chapter to embark on industrial action over land ownership disputes. The disagreement follows a warning from the union regarding recent land allocations within the Federal Capital Territory.
The confrontation was triggered by a press conference held by the ASUU UniAbuja Chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh. During the briefing, Ugoh warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony on campus if the FCT Minister fails to address the issue of land encroachments.
The union’s primary grievance concerns the allocation of land parcels within the university’s designated territory in the Giri District. ASUU claims that the FCT administration has made allocations from land that rightfully belongs to the institution, an act they argue undermines the university’s ability to manage its assets and expand its facilities.
In response to the union’s stance, Minister Wike questioned the relevance of the lecturers’ involvement in property administration. The Minister dismissed the threat of a strike, questioning why a staff union is prioritising land ownership matters over academic concerns.
Contested land allocations in Giri District
The dispute centres on the Giri District, where the University of Abuja maintains a significant presence. According to Dr. Ugoh, the FCT administration has made various allocations from the institution’s designated land parcels, which the union views as an infringement on the university’s legal rights.
ASUU argues that these land allocations hinder the university’s long-term infrastructural development. By encroaching on designated school land, the FCT administration is effectively limiting the capacity of the institution to accommodate a growing student population and expand its academic departments.
While the minister has publicly dismissed the union’s concerns, the tension between the academic staff and the FCT administration remains unresolved. The union maintains that the reversal of these allocations is a requirement to ensure the protection of the university’s territory.
The University of Abuja has previously faced various administrative challenges, but this specific confrontation marks a direct clash between a major academic union and the FCT’s central leadership. The FCT administration has not yet provided a technical report to counter the union’s claims regarding the specific boundaries of the Giri District parcels.
The situation continues to develop as the university community awaits a formal response from the Ministry of the FCT regarding the contested land parcels.
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