The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has threatened industrial action over an alleged attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to allocate portions of the institution’s land to private individuals and companies.

The union expressed its opposition to the alleged land allocation during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, where it called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the university’s property is protected.

The branch chairman, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, said the union would no longer tolerate what it described as an attempt to take over land belonging to the institution for private interests.

Ugoh alleged that the FCT minister had disregarded an existing court order restraining further encroachment on the disputed university property.

According to the union, the court issued an order on August 18, 2026, but the minister allegedly proceeded to allocate portions of the land to individuals and companies on September 26.

The ASUU chairman maintained that the disputed property was originally acquired for the university’s academic, research and infrastructural development, stressing that any attempt to convert it to private use would undermine the institution’s long-term interests.

He warned that the union was prepared to explore legal options to protect the university’s property and would consider industrial action if the matter was not addressed.

The union also called on the Federal Government to ensure that public institutions are protected from actions capable of undermining their statutory responsibilities and developmental objectives.

The disagreement adds to the longstanding concerns surrounding land administration and property disputes within the Federal Capital Territory.

However, the allegations against the FCT minister remain the position of the university’s ASUU branch, and the minister’s response to the latest claims would be necessary to establish his position on the dispute.

The union maintained that it would continue to pursue the matter until the alleged allocation was reversed and the university’s land secured.

Sources: TheCable and PUNCH.