Outrage has trailed the death of a Deputy Director in the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education, Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, following an assault on the civil servant by persons suspected to be agents of a senior government official. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda's death. According to reports, Adeda died in hospital on Friday, a day after an alleged confrontation at the secretariat.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has shut down the state secretariat in Asaba, locking the entrances to the Prof. Chike Odozien Secretariat, demanding an investigation into Adeda's death and assurances on the safety of civil servants. The workers, under the NLC, are calling on the state government to guarantee their safety while carrying out their duties. The protest, led by the Delta State NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, aims to press the government for action.
Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku stated that the union was worried about the safety of workers and would engage the state government on the matter. He emphasized that workers needed assurances that they were safe before returning to their duties. Ofobruku said the workers would resume on Monday if the government addressed their concerns but would remain at home if no satisfactory assurance was given.
The Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Benson Efeotor, has appealed to workers to remain calm and avoid violence or destruction of government property while discussions with the government continued. Efeotor said he had visited the Ministry of Education and sought information about Adeda, who worked at the Science Centre.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has assured workers that the state government would not conceal the findings of any investigation into the matter. Aniagwu stated that the immediate priority was to establish what happened and determine the actual cause of Adeda's death through investigation and medical examination.
Aniagwu commended the labour leaders for conducting the protest peacefully and appealed to workers to remain restrained. He stressed that every human life was important and deserved protection, regardless of the person's position or relationship with others. The state government and labour unions are expected to continue discussions on the matter.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of civil servants in Delta State, with workers demanding action to prevent similar incidents in the future. The government has promised to take necessary action based on the outcome of the investigation. The findings of the investigation will be made known, and those responsible will be brought to book.
Key points
- The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) shut down the Delta State secretariat in Asaba, demanding an investigation into the death of Deputy Director Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda.
- The state government has promised to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda's death and take necessary action.
- Workers are demanding assurances on their safety before returning to work.
