UNIBEN Staff Commits Suicide

UNIBEN Staff Commits Suicide

Prince Carter Oshodin, a member of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) personnel, killed himself on Friday in Upper Sakponba’s Umelu Community due to allegedly difficult financial circumstances.

Oshodin allegedly went months without receiving his salary as a result of the university unions’ strike. He worked at the university as a data entry employee.

It is discouraging that they have not received payment since the strike action started, according to a lecturer at UNIBEN who did not want his name published yesterday. He questioned why people who ended their strike were still not receiving compensation from the government.

He said, “Yes he was our staff, he killed himself due to lack of money. Even some months ago, he was quoted to have been advising people on coping strategies and yet 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 members that have since resumed have not been paid anything.”

According to a coworker who goes by the name Edward, Oshodin complained about his financial obligations and the difficulty he was having paying his two daughters’ tuition on his Facebook page.

He said: “He committed suicide on Friday and according to a post on his Facebook, he said he was facing financial difficulties and could not pay the school fees of his two young daughters. It is a pathetic situation.”

Edo State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the matter was not reported to the police but the DPO of the area went to the community for an on-the-spot assessment where the community head confirmed the incident.