Martins Vincent Otse at FCT minister’s office in Abuja | Photo credit: Nathaniel Shaibu for The Punch
Martins Vincent Otse has led a protest demanding an end to the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in Abuja.
The internet activist, better known as VeryDarkMan, led primary school children to the FCT minister Nyesom Wike’s office on Monday.
Primary school teachers have been on an indefinite strike since March 24, 2025.
The protest started over the failure of area council chairpersons to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000.
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VDM, accompanied by schoolchildren in uniform, staged a mock classroom session during the protest.
The mock class taught the children an alphabet rhyme that included references like “S for Suegbe, T for Tinubu, W for Wike”.
Addressing the protesters, Bitrus Garki, mandate secretary for the area councils services secretariat, acknowledged the FCT administration’s intervention in the dispute.
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He maintained that the issue primarily falls under the purview of the area councils.
Garki assured the group that their message was received and authorities would address the matter, although he did not provide a specific timeline for resolution.
The mandate secretary emphasised ongoing collaborations with stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
In response, VDM issued a seven-day ultimatum to the administration, threatening a larger protest involving more students if the teachers’ strike is not resolved.
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He also announced plans to protest on June 24 for primary healthcare workers who are also reportedly awaiting the N70,000 minimum wage implementation.
