NLC, NSITF clash over ownership of Abuja land plots

There are strong indications that controversies over some plots of land in Abuja may have pitched the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, against one another.

This became feasible when the NSITF issued a public notice claiming that the lands’ documents are missing, a development that prompted the NLC to debunk it.

The NLC had insisted that it is in possession of the original documents, puncturing the claims that they were missing.

Trouble started when the management of NSITF issued a public notice signed by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oluwaseun Faleye, and published in two national dailies, including Vanguard and The Sun on Thursday, July 10, 2025, declaring that it could no longer find the Certificate of Occupancy, Power of Attorney, and Deed of Assignment relating to Plot Numbers MISC 54707 and MISC 54824.

Faleye equally claimed the plots were in favour of the NSITF Management Board and warned the public and relevant authorities, including the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS), not to deal with any person in possession of the original documents.

But in a sharp reaction to the public notice, NLC described the claims as “mischievous,” “utterly ridiculous,” and possibly a product of “sheer ignorance.”

Debunking the position of NSITF, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stated: “We find this publication as mischievous or utterly ridiculous or hopefully, an act of sheer ignorance because the aforesaid plots of land have always belonged to the Nigeria Labour Congress, and will continue to belong to the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

He insisted that the Congress is not only the bona fide owner of the controversial land in question but has possession of it.

To further buttress NLC’s position, Ajaero argued that: “It is trite knowledge that one cannot claim loss or issue loss notice over that which one has neither possessory nor proprietary right.”

But in another swift reaction, the NSITF maintained its stance through a counter-statement signed by its Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede.

Mede stated: “The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has taken note of the press release issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in reaction to our recent publication relating to plots referenced under file numbers MISC 54707 and MISC 54824.”

Reaffirming its earlier position, the Fund added: “The Fund reaffirms its position as stated in its previous publication and maintains full confidence that the appropriate authorities will resolve the matter in accordance with the law.”

NLC, NSITF clash over ownership of Abuja land plots