A civil servant attempts suicide over owed salary by the state govt

Firstclass newsline gathered that Owolabi took the action because of
his inability to feed his family due to the failure of the state
government to pay salaries.
Civil servants in the state[osun] have not been paid their salaries in
the last six months.
Firstclass newsline learnt that the incident which happened at
Owolabi's residence last Saturday caused pandemonium in the
neighborhood.
It was gathered on Thursday that Owolabi, who is a sanitary officer at
the council was receiving treatment at a hospital.
A source close to Owolabi said he became frustrated as a result of his
inability to meet his family's needs.
The source said, "Baba Ibeji ( Owolabi) drank herbicide. He was
frustrated because he has been unable to feed himself and other
members of his family.
"You are aware that the state government has not paid workers for some
months now. I think he just lost hope and decided to take his life by
drinking Gramoxone.
"Members of his family rushed him to a hospital in Ile Ife, where he
was admitted. We are praying that he survives it."
Owolabi's wife and children were said to have relocated from their
apartment and could not be reached for comment.
The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Mr. David
Owoeye, tacitly confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the
telephone.
Owoeye said, "Has the news spread to you? We don't want to make it
public so that it will not embarrass the family."
A factional Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Gambi Yusuf,
said the unpaid salaries had caused the workers untold hardship.
Yusuf said, "Anybody who is not paid for six months is a walking
corpse. What do you expect him to eat? Even if the workers can fast,
won't they break their fast?
"How do you expect them to feed their children?
"The government of the day should be more serious about workers' welfare.
"We are appealing to the government to pay workers because workers
deserve their wages."
The Director of the state Bureau of Communication, Semiu Okanlawon,
said, "I am not aware of the incident and I don't see the nexus
between a man drinking poison and when the government will pay
workers' salaries."
The state police spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, could not be reached on
the telephone. She had also yet to reply to a text message sent to her
phone.
Firstclassnewsline.net