In a dramatic move to highlight the ongoing teachers’ strike in Abuja, social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM), whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, staged a protest outside the FCT Minister’s gate, transforming the protest into a mock classroom, and drawing attention to the plight of children affected by the ongoing school shutdown.
Public primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory have been on strike since March 24, 2025. The strike started after the failure of Area Council chairmen to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage agreed upon by the federal government.
As a result, thousands of children have been out of school for over three months, missing vital lessons and examinations.
To raise awareness, VeryDarkMan gathered several children dressed in school uniforms holding a symbolic class session at the gate of the FCT Minister’s office, currently headed by Nyesom Wike.
During the session, he taught the children the English alphabet in a satirical style, making up phrases such as:
“S for Suegbe, T for Tinubu, W for Wike.”
The children repeated the letters after him, turning the protest into both a lesson and a powerful visual message.
Officials from the FCT Administration, including Mandate Secretary Bitrus Garki, met with the protester on site. Garki explained that while the FCT Administration supports the teachers, the real responsibility lies with the Area Council Chairmen. He also mentioned that the government is currently in talks with stakeholders like the NUT, NLC, NULGE, and traditional rulers.
However, there is still no fixed date for when schools will reopen.
VeryDarkMan was clear about his next steps. He gave the FCT Administration a seven-day ultimatum to resolve the crisis. If not, he plans to organize a larger protest involving even more schoolchildren.
He said the aim is to pressure the authorities into taking immediate action.
For now, the teachers remain on strike, and the students remain out of school. The countdown to VDM’s ultimatum has begun. All eyes are on the FCT Minister and the Area Council leaders.
Will they resolve the crisis before the protest escalates? Or will more dramatic scenes unfold in the days ahead?
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