Wike dismisses UniAbuja ASUU strike threat over land allocation

FILE: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the threat by the University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to embark on a strike over the reallocation of portions of the institution’s land to private developers and government agencies.

Wike said ASUU had no authority to determine land ownership or allocation in the FCT, insisting that such matters fell within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The minister spoke during his monthly media chat on Thursday, where he questioned the union’s involvement in the dispute and rejected its allegations of 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.

The minister also questioned the justification for allowing the university to retain thousands of hectares of land without adequate development, arguing that government had a responsibility to ensure proper land use and adherence to the FCT master plan.

He maintained that the administration’s decision to reallocate portions of the university’s land was part of its efforts to enforce urban planning regulations and promote development.

Wike also 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 faulted the use of strike threats as a means of pressuring the government, insisting that the administration would not succumb 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 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 essential for 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 land should be protected from encroachment.

However, Wike maintained that land administration in the FCT remained the responsibility of the FCTA and that government would continue to take decisions on the recovery and allocation of land in line with its statutory responsibilities.