Wike Rejects UniAbuja ASUU Strike Threat, Insists on FCTA’s Land Authority
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the threat of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja chapter, over the alleged reallocation of portions of the institution’s land.
The minister maintained that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has the authority to manage land matters in the territory, insisting that the government would not reverse its decisions because of threats of industrial action.
The dispute followed the alleged allocation of portions of the university’s land to private developers and government agencies, a development that has drawn strong opposition from the university’s academic staff union.
ASUU, through its University of Abuja chapter chairman, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, had warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the disputed allocations were not reversed.
The union argued that the university was originally allocated about 11,824 hectares of land for academic expansion, research and other developmental purposes.It also alleged that the September 26 land allocations violated an existing court order restraining encroachment on the university’s property.
However, Wike maintained that the FCTA was prepared to defend its actions through the appropriate legal channels, stressing that the administration would continue with its land recovery and allocation policies.
The disagreement has heightened concerns over the protection of public university land, compliance with court orders and the potential disruption of academic activities at the University of Abuja.
With both sides maintaining their positions, attention is now focused on the legal and administrative processes that could determine the ownership and future use of the disputed portions of land.
