A civil servant in Adamawa State, 48-year-old John Wickliffe, has died under distressing circumstances just days after being demoted from his position as a Grade Level 6 House Keeper to a Level 2 cleaner.
According to reports, the demotion came without any prior disciplinary steps or explanation, and it was followed by an abrupt eviction order.
Wickliffe, a long-serving employee of the Gombi Local Government, reportedly collapsed and died last Friday, barely a week after he was handed the shocking transfer letter.
His widow, Mrs Namanfa John, confirmed to SaharaReporters that the transfer letter, although dated February 25, 2025, was only received recently.
“He served this state loyally for 22 years without promotion or confirmation,” she said tearfully.
“Then they suddenly handed him a letter demoting him to a cleaner, no query, no explanation. He died a few days afterwards.”
The widow said her husband’s sudden death was triggered by the emotional and physical toll of the humiliation and stress, especially given his long years of service and his qualifications, including a diploma in Hotel and Catering.
Further compounding the family’s trauma, they were told to leave their government-provided residence without delay.
Mrs John named one Mukhtar, a Zonal Inspector from the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the person who issued the eviction order.
She also pointed to Lydia Michael, Acting Director of Local Government, as the official who signed both the transfer and eviction directives.
“He was never confirmed, never promoted, just stagnated for 22 years. This sudden humiliation killed him,” she added.
Mrs John suspects her husband was deliberately removed to make space for new recruits following Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s recent approval of 4,000 new civil service hires.
“There is a very strong possibility that money changed hands. They sacrificed my husband for someone else,” she said, urging the governor to investigate what she believes is a case of injustice.
In response, Lydia Michael defended the Ministry’s actions, describing Wickliffe as a “daily-rated staff” whose employment did not come with job security.
“His assignment was in line with his employment category,” she stated, calling it a routine management decision.
But for Mrs John, the matter is far from routine. “Let the governor look into this. My husband deserves justice, in death, if not in life,” she pleaded.