A member of staff of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prince Carter Oshodin, reportedly committed suicide on Friday over his dire financial situation.
Oshodin, a member of the Non-academic Staff Union (NASU), 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 has called off its strike recently, but the members have not been paid their salaries.
A professor in the University, who craved anonymity, said 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.”
