Activities at the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba were disrupted on Friday after workers under the Nigeria Labour Congress shut the complex following the death of a Deputy Director, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda.
The workers locked the entrances to the Prof Chike Odozien Secretariat, preventing government employees and visitors from accessing the premises as they demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
Adeda, a staff member of the Ministry of Secondary Education, reportedly died in hospital on Friday, a day after an alleged confrontation at the secretariat.
The incident has triggered concerns among workers over safety in government offices, with labour unions demanding that the circumstances leading to the official’s death be established.
There have been allegations that Adeda was assaulted during a confrontation involving the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu. The allegation has not been independently established.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Goodluck Ofobruku, said the union was engaging the state government over the incident and the safety of workers.
He indicated that workers could resume on Monday if the government addressed their concerns, but might stay away from work if no satisfactory assurance was given.
The Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Benson Efeotor, said the council was also working to establish what happened. He said he had visited the Ministry of Education to obtain information about Adeda, who worked at the Science Centre.
Efeotor urged workers to remain calm and avoid violence or destruction of government property while discussions with the authorities continued.
The state government said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the government’s priority was to establish the facts and determine the actual cause of death.
He said an autopsy and medical examination would help establish what happened before Adeda’s death.
The government also assured the workers that the matter would be investigated and appropriate action taken based on the findings.
The protest ended peacefully, but further discussions between the government and labour unions are expected as workers await the outcome of the investigation.
Discussion0