The Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State chapter, on Friday shut the state secretariat in Asaba following the death of a Deputy Director with the Ministry of Secondary Education, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda.
The workers barricaded the entrances to the Prof Chike Odozien Secretariat, disrupting official activities and demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
Adeda reportedly died in a hospital on Friday, a day after an alleged confrontation at the secretariat.
The incident has been linked to an alleged altercation involving the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, although the claim that Adeda was assaulted has not been independently established.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated.
Addressing the protesting workers, the Delta State NLC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku, said the union was concerned about the safety of workers in government offices.
He said the NLC would engage the state government to seek a resolution, adding that workers could resume duties on Monday if adequate assurances were given.
“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.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Benson Efeotor, said the council was making efforts to establish what happened.
Efeotor said he had visited the Ministry of Education to obtain information about the deceased, who reportedly worked at the Science Centre.
He appealed to the workers to remain peaceful and avoid damaging government property while discussions with the authorities continued.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, assured the workers that the government would investigate the matter.
Aniagwu said the immediate priority was to establish the facts surrounding Adeda’s death, noting that an autopsy and medical examination could help determine the cause.
“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.
The commissioner further assured the workers that the government would not conceal any findings from the investigation.
“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.
He urged the protesters to remain calm and commended the labour unions for conducting the protest peacefully.
Aniagwu also stressed that the government had a responsibility to protect every human life, regardless of a person’s status.
The state government and labour unions are expected to continue discussions as investigations into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death proceed.
