A data entry worker at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Carter Oshodin, has allegedly taken his own life due to financial difficulties.
The non-academic staff union which the deceased belonged to are yet to be paid their salaries by the government for months. The union recently called off its strike as the government insists on no-work no-pay policy.
Oshodin’s Facebook confirmed his job description at UNIBEN.
A professor at the university, who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, told PUNCH on Saturday that it is disheartening that they have not been paid despite calling off their strike.
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.”
A colleague of the deceased simply known as Edward told the newspaper that Oshodin “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.”
Edo police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor said the divisional police officer (DPO) visited Umelu for on-the-spot assessment, with the community’s head to confirm the incident.
