By our reporter
Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), led a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), turning the entrance into a makeshift classroom in response to the ongoing strike by public primary school teachers.
The strike, which began in March 2025, is now in its third month, with thousands of children still out of school due to the government’s failure to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage and adjust salaries in line with teachers’ promotions.
During the demonstration, VDM taught children a satirical version of the alphabet, using it to call out government officials. Chants such as “A for Asiwaju, B for Bola, C for Corruption” were repeated by the children as a form of protest against President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
VDM accused the government of negligence and criticized leaders for prioritizing political interests while public school children suffer. He emphasized that many of the officials’ children attend expensive private or foreign schools, while those in public schools continue to miss classes and exams.
The activist called on the FCTA and the Presidency to immediately resolve the crisis and reopen schools, warning that the continued shutdown is harming the future of Nigeria’s youth.
As of the time of reporting, neither the FCT Minister nor the Presidency has responded to the protest or addressed the ongoing strike.
