Delta Secretariat Shutdown: NLC Demands Justice Over Deputy Director’s Death

​Workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress shut down the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba on Friday, following the tragic death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Secondary Education.

​Adeda passed away in a hospital on Friday, just a day after an alleged confrontation at the Prof. Chike Odozien Secretariat involving the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu. Sources allege the dispute escalated after the commissioner reportedly asked the deputy director if he recognized him, to which Adeda replied in the negative. While the allegations of assault remain unverified and under active review, the incident has sparked widespread anger among public servants.

​State NLC Chairman Goodluck Ofobruku stressed that workplace safety remains paramount. He announced that workers would resume duties on Monday only if the government provides concrete safety guarantees and ensures that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

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​Addressing the protesting workers, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, assured labor leaders that the state government would conduct a transparent investigation. He noted that a formal medical examination and autopsy would be vital in establishing the exact cause of death, promising that nothing would be swept under the carpet.