THERE was drama in Igede Ekiti, the headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area in Ekiti State, on Sunday after a teacher (name withheld) stole a pot of amala (yam flour meal) from a neighbour’s flat.
The incident, which happened at Odogede area of the town at about 1.30pm, caused a stir among the locals who sympathised with the teacher, who works at Ekiti Baptist High School.
It was gathered yesterday that the incident happened in a building made up of three flats.
A source, who lived within the vicinity where the incident happened, said: “The incident happened at about 1.30pm on Sunday when majority of the residents had arrived from their churches and the teacher could not go to church because of the prevailing condition.
“The neighbour on arrival at home prepared an amala, but unknown to her, the teacher had been watching and bidding her time when the owner of the food would leave the kitchen before she struck.
“As the woman preparing the food left the kitchen, the teacher went there and stole the pot of amala and carried it to her room.
“But owner of the food screamed and was startled to find the teacher and her two children eating the amala with palm oil.
“The owner of the food, apparently touched by the action of the teacher, went back to her apartment and brought soup for the teacher and her children to eat to satisfaction.”
The Nation also gathered that many civil servants have relocated to their villages to carry out farming because of the uncertainty surrounding the time they would be paid.
Another source said: “Many of my colleagues had relocated to their villages and hometown to till the land and cultivate crops to keep body and soul together.
“You know this industrial action is making us to devise means to survive, you know life is easier in rural locations and many of them have planted crops like maize, which can be harvested within three months.
“Others are also cultivating cash crops as a fall back option anytime retirement comes. We just have to survive because this is not the best of times for civil servants.
“I also know others who are now learning trades like fashion designing, photography, barbing, decoration, cake making and other crafts.
“Those who combine business with government work and those who are clerics now have more time to practise their vocations.”
Also yesterday, it was discovered that non-payment of salaries has led to the reduction of crowd at Automated Teller Machine (ATM) points in banks in Ado Ekiti.
A bank worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation could not be unconnected with non-payment of salaries.
He said: “Before now, some of our customers did not bother to ask for ATM cards, even including students. Some said it was easy to collect money through the counter than ATM, because of the long queue. But the situation suddenly changed. The request for ATM cards had increased.
“I want to confirm to you that the civil servants are the highest customers any bank can have in Ekiti and since their salaries are not being paid, patronage in terms of lodgments and withdrawals have reduced considerably.”
Source @thenationonlineng.
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