Lecturer Commits Suicide Over Unpaid Salaries In Edo

A principal lecturer in the Department of Adult Education of the defunct College of Education now Tayo Akpata University, Ekiadolor, Benin, Friday Orobator, has committed suicide over a 13-month unpaid salary.

The senior lecturer, who was in his 50s and whose wife had just been delivered of a baby, hanged himself at his Obakhazbaye, Benin residence.

He committed the act on Friday.

His lifeless body was discovered behind his apartment around 1:30 pm with the green rope he used to hang himself still on his neck.

Policemen from Oba Station moved his body to the morgue around 1:30 pm.

The Nation gathered the father of four had complained over his inability to feed his family to close friends.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said Orobator told a colleague last Wednesday he was ashamed and tired of begging for money from friends and well-wishers to cater for his family.

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The Chairman of COEASU of the tertiary institution, owned by Edo State Government, Fred Omonuwa, confirmed all the staff had not been paid for 13 months.

He pleaded with Governor Godwin Obaseki to do the needful and give them a sense of belonging.

He said: “Everybody knows that Edo State government owes us 13 months of salary, which we continued to agitate for, even before the September 19 governorship election, but it was tagged political agitation.

“Some friends of Mr. Orobator in Benin City and Lagos, among others, actually tried their best in the past few weeks to assist him with some money.

“Quite, unfortunately, Mr. Orobator could no longer provide for himself and his family. His wife has just had a baby.

“We, staff, of the institution are pained by the suicide. Our people are going through difficult times and are dying. Edo State government should please listen to us.

“Schools in Edo State are about resuming after the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) lockdown but our members cannot pay the school fees of their children. What have we done to deserve this horrible treatment?”