Delta NLC shuts secretariat over deputy director’s death

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Workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday shut down the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba to protest the death of a Deputy Director, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, following an alleged confrontation at the secretariat.

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The workers locked the entrances to the secretariat, preventing normal official activities, as they demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.

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Adeda, a staff member of the Ministry of Secondary Education, reportedly died in hospital on Friday, a day after the alleged incident at the Prof Chike Odozien Secretariat, Asaba.

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The protest followed allegations that Adeda was assaulted during a confrontation involving the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu.

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Sources familiar with the incident alleged that Ashibogwu asked Adeda whether he knew him during the encounter, to which the deputy director reportedly replied that he did not.

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The allegation of assault has not been independently established, while the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death remain under investigation.

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Speaking during the protest, the Delta State NLC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku, said workers were unhappy with the incident and concerned about their safety at their places of work.

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Ofobruku said the union would engage the state government to find an amicable resolution to the matter.

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He said workers would return to their duties on Monday if the government assured them of their safety but would remain at home if their concerns were not addressed.

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“We must assure workers that they are safe in their places of work. And whoever is responsible for this beating that led to his untimely death must be brought to book before we come back,” Ofobruku said.

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Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Benson Efeotor, said the council was working to establish what happened.

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Efeotor said he had visited the Ministry of Education and sought information concerning the deceased, who he said worked at the Science Centre.

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He appealed to the workers to remain calm and avoid violence or destruction of property while the union continued discussions with the government.

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Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the state government would not sweep the matter under the carpet.

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Aniagwu, who addressed the workers and union leaders, said the government’s immediate priority was to establish the facts and determine the cause of Adeda’s death.

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“There are different conjectures as to what may have led to the death of our brother who passed in the hospital. Perhaps, as the autopsy would have been able to establish, what transpired and indeed medical examination will determine the cause of death,” he said.

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The commissioner assured the workers that the circumstances surrounding the death would be established and that necessary action would be taken based on the findings.

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“I can assure you that nothing is going to be swept under the carpet. It will be known what happened and then the necessary action will be taken,” Aniagwu said.

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He appealed for restraint and commended the workers and union leaders for handling the protest peacefully.

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Aniagwu also stressed that every human life deserved to be protected, regardless of the person’s status or relationship to others.

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The state government is expected to continue discussions with the labour unions as workers await further clarification on the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.

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