STRIKE: UNIBEN staff commits suicide over financial difficulties

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

A staff of the University of Benin, Prince Carter Oshodin, has committed suicide on Friday over his dire financial situation.

Oshodin, who had not been paid his salary for months due to the strike action embarked by university unions, was a data entry personnel at the university.

It was gathered that the Non-Academic Staff Union which the deceased belonged to has called off its strike recently, but the members had yet to be paid their salaries.

Oshodin’s Facebook confirmed his job description at UNIBEN.

A professor in the University, who would not want his name mentioned due to the emotional nature of the case, told newsmen on Saturday that it is disheartening that they have not been paid since the strike action began. He also wondered why those who called of their strike are still not been paid by the government.

He said, “Yes he is our staff that killed himself due to lack of money. Even some months ago, he was quoted to have been advising people on coping strategies and yet he took his life which has put his family in a bigger problem.

“We have been paid no dime since we went on strike. This is the 10th of September, the non academic staff that has since resumed have not been paid anything. Boko Haram! No to Western education!”

Another colleague simply known as Edward said the Late Oshodin on his Facebook page lamented that he could not meet his financial and was finding it increasingly difficult to pay his two daughters’ school fees.

He said, “He committed suicide on Friday and according to a post on his Facebook, he said he was facing financial difficulties and could pay the school fees of his two young daughters. It is a pathetic situation.”

As at the time of filing this report, UNiBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire told the reporter to send her a text message, which has not been replied, while Edo State Command Police Public Relation Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, has also not replied a message sent to him.