In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing education crisis in Nigeria’s capital, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have officially declared their support for the mass protest organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
The protest, which will begin at 7:00 AM at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Secretariat in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, is a response to the prolonged closure of over 400 public primary schools across the six area councils of the FCT. The schools have remained shut for more than two months due to unresolved disputes between the FCT Administration and Local Government Education Authorities.
According to a senior official of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), who spoke on condition of anonymity, “We the primary school teachers will be joining the NANS-organised protest next tomorrow by God’s grace.”
NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, condemned what he described as “a deliberate act of negligence and disregard for the educational future of the Nigerian child.” The association had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, demanding the immediate reopening of the schools—a deadline that has now expired without resolution.
The protest is expected to draw thousands of students, teachers, civil society groups, and education rights activists from across the FCT and neighboring states including Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Kaduna. Participants have been urged to wear black attire to symbolize the “death of basic education” in the capital.
The FCT Ministry of Education has stated that it remains committed to resolving the impasse and is actively mediating between stakeholders. However, with no tangible progress reported, tensions continue to rise.