A senior civil servant in the Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Mr. Alih Amodu, has attempted to end his life by drinking a large quantity of insecticide.
It was learnt that Alih 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 have not been paid their salaries in the last six months.
The incident which happened at Alih’s residence last Saturday caused pandemonium in the neighborhood. Alih, who is a sanitary officer at the council was receiving treatment at a hospital.
A source close to Alih said he became frustrated as a result of his inability to meet his family’s needs. The source said:
“Baba Jemila (Alih) 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 Ajaka, where he was admitted. We are praying that he survives it.”
Alih’s wife and children were said to have relocated from their apartment and could not be reached for comment.
The eldest son of the family, Mr. Abdullahi Alih, tacitly confirmed the incident to Hon Alfa Tijani on the telephone. Abdullahi said:
“Has the news spread to you? We don’t want to make it public so that it will not embarrass the family.”
Also speaking on the issue, Mr. James Okoliko, said the unpaid salaries had caused the workers untold hardship.
According to him; “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.”
– Hon Alfa Tijani, a social critic, reports from Ajaka, Igalamela/Odolu LGA of Kogi State.
Contact: hon.tijanialfa@gmail.com
