A serious dispute has erupted between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) over ownership rights to two plots of land situated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The controversy began after NSITF publicly declared, through an advertorial published in two national newspapers on Thursday, that it had lost critical documents related to the land plots identified as MISC 54707 and MISC 54824.
According to the Managing Director of NSITF, Dr. Oluwaseun Faleye, the agency had misplaced the Certificate of Occupancy, Power of Attorney, and Deed of Assignment tied to the plots.
Faleye went further to appeal to the Department of Land Administration of the FCTA and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) to assist by issuing Certified True Copies (CTCs) or initiating reissuance processes for the missing documents.
He also warned the public and relevant authorities not to recognize any individual or group who may be in possession of the original title documents, stating clearly that NSITF should be considered the rightful owner.
Reacting sharply to this claim, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, strongly dismissed NSITF’s publication, describing it as “mischievous, utterly ridiculous, or at best, an act of sheer ignorance.” He stated unequivocally that the plots of land in question rightfully belong to the NLC.
Ajaero asserted that the NLC has always maintained both legal ownership (proprietary rights) and physical possession (possessory rights) of the disputed land. According to him, it is legally unsound for NSITF to declare the loss of documents for property it does not own or possess.
His words: “We find this publication either mischievous or an act of gross ignorance. The aforementioned plots have always belonged to the Nigeria Labour Congress, continue to belong to us, and will remain the property of the NLC. We are in possession and have proprietary rights over them.”
He further clarified that NSITF cannot claim to have lost what it never legally possessed, adding that such a declaration lacks legal and factual grounding. “One cannot declare loss of title over a property they neither own nor occupy,” he stressed.
While the NLC is not currently pursuing legal action or seeking damages for what it described as a public embarrassment, Ajaero advised the NSITF to immediately withdraw the publication. He urged the agency to consult both the NLC and Trust Fund Pensions for clarification on the matter.
Ajaero also appealed to the general public, as well as relevant land administration authorities including the FCTA and AGIS, to disregard the NSITF’s claims, stating that the agency’s notice has no legal merit.
He said: “Finally, we urge the general public, the FCTA, AGIS, and other relevant bodies responsible for land documentation to treat NSITF’s notice as null and void.”
Despite the strong response from the labour union, the NSITF management doubled down on its stance in a brief statement issued on Friday. The agency said it stands firmly by its earlier claims regarding the ownership and documentation of the plots.
The NSITF’s statement reads: “The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has taken note of the press release issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in response to our recent public notice concerning plots referenced as MISC 54707 and MISC 54824.
“We reaffirm our position as stated and maintain full confidence that the appropriate authorities will resolve the matter in accordance with existing laws.”
The disagreement now awaits intervention by the Federal Capital Territory authorities, who are expected to investigate the legal documents and clarify rightful ownership.
As the battle over the land intensifies, stakeholders anticipate a resolution that aligns with legal principles and established records.