42-yr-old Bayelsa engineer commits suicide over 13-months unpaid salaries

yetunde oyeleke

October 2, 2015 5:11 PM

A 42-year-old civil servant, Peter Ogiero, has committed suicide over 13 months salaries owed him by the Bayelsa state government, a few days after governor Seriake Dickson explained that the government is owing salaries because of a sharp drop in revenue.

Henry Seriake Dickson

A 42-year-old civil servant, Peter Ogiero, has committed suicide over 13 months salaries owed him by the Bayelsa state government.

According to reports, Ogiero, an engineer with the Bayelsa State Water Board, died on Tuesday after drinking an insecticide known as ‘Sniper’.

He reportedly became hypertensive and developed stroke about one year ago after which his wife left him with three of their children.

An unnamed family member who spoke with The Nation suggested that Ogiero decided to take his life due to frustration over his unpaid salaries.

“Ogiero’s condition was pathetic. His death was tragic and painful," he said.

"He took his life by drinking an insecticide called Sniper. He was so frustrated that he felt life and the government were unkind to him.

"He was hopeless and helpless.”

READ: Sylva picks running mate as he plots Dickson's ouster on APC ticket

READ: Governor laments drop in revenue, explains delays in salary

But the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Kuroghofa Benwari, told the news outlet that Ogiero's suicide was not related to unpaid salaries.

He said no regular worker of the ministry is owed the 13-month-salaries reported to be the reason for the suicide.

Benwari also blamed opposition politicians for fuelling the rumour to damage the image of governor Seriake Dickson who is seeking election in the December 5 elections that will also be contested by a former Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The news of the suicide could hurt Dickson’s chances as he faces Sylva, who recently won the ticket of the All Progressives Party Congress (APC) at the polls.

He recently explained that the government is owing salaries because of a sharp drop in revenue generation from N18 billion in 2012 to N6 billion in 2015.

yetunde oyeleke