Popular activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), staged a protest on Monday, June 23, at the residence of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, demanding urgent action over the prolonged strike by primary school teachers.
The protest, sparked by the 90-day shutdown of primary schools in Abuja, saw VDM gather uniformed pupils outside the minister’s gate. He conducted a mock classroom session, sarcastically reciting:
“S for Suegbe, T for Tinubu, W for Wike,” a dramatic jab aimed at government leaders for their inaction.
The ongoing strike began on March 24, 2025, due to the failure of Area Council Chairmen to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage for teachers, leaving thousands of children out of school across the FCT.
In response, Bitrus Garki, Mandate Secretary of the Area Councils Services Secretariat, acknowledged the crisis but blamed the Area Councils.
“We’ve intervened multiple times,” Garki said, adding that talks with stakeholders, including NUT, NULGE, NLC, and traditional leaders, are ongoing.
Unsatisfied with the government’s response, VDM issued a seven-day ultimatum, warning of a larger protest if the schools remain shut.
“We will come back with more students,” he threatened.
VDM also announced plans to protest again, this time for striking primary healthcare workers, who also haven’t received the new wage.
“This is just a reminder to Wike,” VDM stated. “Maybe he’s forgotten. We’re not fighting, just reminding him.”
As the standoff drags on, Abuja’s primary schools remain closed, with mounting pressure on authorities to act before protests escalate further.
