The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has threatened to withdraw its cooperation in maintaining industrial peace at the institution over the alleged allocation of university land by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The union is demanding an immediate reversal of the disputed allocation, accusing the minister of disregarding an existing court order restraining him from interfering with the university’s land.

ASUU also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and caution Wike against further actions that could affect the institution.

The union warned that its patience was running out and that continued interference with the university’s property could trigger an industrial crisis.

The branch chairperson, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, made the position known on Tuesday during a news conference in Abuja.

The briefing was organised under the theme, “Ministerial Encroachment into University of Abuja Land: Some Points to Ponder.”

Ugoh said the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the minister failed to reverse what it described as the unlawful distribution of portions of the university’s land to private individuals and companies.

He accused the FCT minister of acting against the rule of law, particularly because of a subsisting court order concerning the disputed property.

According to the ASUU chairman, Justice F.E. Mesiri of the Maitama High Court issued an interlocutory injunction on August 18, restraining Wike from entering or encroaching on the university’s land.

The union alleged that the minister proceeded with the allocation despite the court’s directive.

Ugoh specifically referred to September 26, when portions of the disputed property were allegedly allocated to companies and individuals.

“The act of the FCT Minister is an outright breach and total disregard for the rule of law.

“On Aug. 18, Justice F.E. Mesiri of Maitama High Court granted interlocutory injunctions, including an order restraining the FCT Minister from entering or encroaching on University land.

“In spite of the court order, the FCT Minister went ahead on Sept. 26, to allocate the university land to companies and individuals,” he said.

ASUU maintained that the disagreement was not simply about the size of land available to the university but also about the ownership, legal status and future development of the institution.

Ugoh recalled that Wike had announced plans to recover 7,000 hectares from the 11,000 hectares reportedly allocated to the University of Abuja during an event on June 30, 2025.

The announcement was made at the inauguration of an access road leading to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Institute in Giri, Abuja.

At the time, the minister accused the university of claiming an excessive portion of land and developing or fencing areas without the necessary approvals and documentation.

However, ASUU rejected the allegations, insisting that the land was legally allocated to the university by the Federal Government.

“There is overwhelming documentary evidence showing that this parcel of land was allocated to the University of Abuja,” he said.

The union explained that the institution was established on January 1, 1988, with an initial allocation of 11,824 hectares to support its long-term development.

Ugoh argued that the university did not independently select the location or determine the size of the land allocated to it.

He maintained that the decision was taken by the Federal Government, which owns the institution.

He also rejected the suggestion that the university’s inability to develop the entire landmass within a short period should justify its recovery by the FCT administration.

According to him, the land was reserved to accommodate the institution’s future expansion, including academic buildings, student accommodation, administrative facilities and research centres.

He explained that the University of Abuja operates a dual-mode system, combining conventional academic programmes with distance learning.

This structure, he said, requires adequate space for different educational activities and supporting infrastructure.

The ASUU chairman further identified research institutes, innovation centres and specialised academic facilities as some of the projects that could be established on the land as the institution expands.

He added that some portions of the property serve environmental purposes. Such areas provide green spaces that support ecological balance, environmental protection and efforts to address the effects of climate change.

Ugoh acknowledged that the university’s physical development might appear slow compared with expectations. However, he argued that the responsibility for developing federal universities rests with the Federal Government.

“The development of the University of Abuja may seem very slow, but it is still the Federal Government that is responsible for the development of its university.

“We appreciate the zeal of the FCT Minister to develop the FCT, but the argument that the land has been left undeveloped for too long does not stand.

“Universities gradually realise their full potential. It is pertinent to mention that the 11,824 hectares of University of Abuja land is not in any way beyond a dual-mode university in the country’s capital.

“For instance, University of Ilorin occupies 15,000 hectares, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, occupies 13,000 hectares, Federal University of Technology, Minna, occupies 10,650 hectares and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, occupies 10,000 hectares,” he said.

He cited the land sizes of other federal universities to support the argument that the University of Abuja’s allocation was not excessive when compared with similar institutions across the country.

The union also disclosed that not every portion of the allocated land could be immediately developed because of its physical features.

Ugoh said approximately two hectares of the university’s land were hilly and would require substantial financial resources before they could be developed for institutional use.

He insisted that the university needed to retain control of its allocated property to implement its long-term development plans.

The ASUU branch further declared that it would explore every lawful avenue to prevent what it described as an attempt to take away the institution’s property.

He said the union would not remain silent if the disputed allocation continued, warning that the disagreement could affect the existing relationship between university workers and the authorities.

“We will, within the ambit of the law, resist in totality any attempt by the minister to unlawfully take away UniAbuja land,” Ugoh said.