Outspoken social commentator and activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), took his protest against the ongoing primary school teachers’ strike to the gates of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration on Monday — staging an impromptu lesson for children denied access to education for over two months.
Mr Otse, accompanied by a group of volunteers and primary school pupils, held makeshift classes outside the Secretariat building in a symbolic demonstration against what he called “governmental negligence and broken promises.”
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) commenced the indefinite strike on 24 March 2025, citing the non-implementation of the agreed N70,000 minimum wage and delayed salary payments by the six Area Council Chairmen in the FCT.
In a statement shared via his Facebook page just days earlier, VDM accused authorities of deceiving teachers and failing in their obligations. “They claimed they’re paying these primary school teachers ₦80,000 and above depending on their level,” he wrote. “Sadly, they lied. These teachers are still being paid ₦30,000 — and even that is owed. That’s why they’re on strike.”
He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the matter, insisting that corruption and mismanagement were at the root of the prolonged impasse. “For over 9 weeks, our public primary school kids in the Federal Capital Territory have been out of school,” he lamented.
The protest has drawn attention to the plight of thousands of children affected by the strike, with many parents and civil society groups urging the government to resolve the dispute without further delay.
As of press time, there has yet to be an official response from the FCT Administration or the Area Councils regarding Mr Otse’s protest or the allegations made.
