Mr. Ojo Owolabi, a senior civil servant in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State,tried to kill himself by drinking a large quantity of insecticide.
It was gathered that Owolabi tried to kill himself because his salary hadn’t been paid for the last 6 months, hence was unable to feed his family.
According to Punch, the incident which took place last Saturday caused panic in the neighborhood when the news spread that Owolabi had tried to commit suicide.
Owolabi, who is a sanitary officer at the council was receiving treatment at a hospital. A source close to Owolabi said he became frustrated because he couldn’t take care of his family.
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.
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.”Owolabi’s wife and children could not be reached for comment. (Punch, LIB).
