‎Delta labour suspends strike, workers resume Monday over Adeda’s death ‎

Ebenezer Adurokiya, Warri

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‎Organised labour in Delta State has directed workers to resume duties on Monday following the intervention of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the constitution of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
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‎The directive followed a meeting between labour leaders and the governor, after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had declared an indefinite strike over the death of the civil servant.
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‎NLC Chairman in Delta State, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Wilson Asekutu, directed workers to return to their offices by 8:00 a.m. on Monday.
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‎Ofobruku said the criminal aspect of the matter was already being investigated by the police, adding that arrests had been made and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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‎He urged workers to remain calm, assuring them that the unions would work to ensure that justice was served.
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‎“We have met with the State Governor. The criminal angle is being investigated and arrests have been made. All parties found culpable shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
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‎The NLC chairman thanked workers across the state for their solidarity and assured the family of the deceased of the unions’ support.
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‎He also urged workers to remain diligent in the discharge of their duties, while commending Governor Oborevwori for his intervention.
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‎According to him, organised labour would collaborate with the Administrative Panel of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.

‎The state government had earlier announced the constitution of an eight-member Administrative Panel of Inquiry following consultations with organised labour.
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The panel is chaired by Mrs Charity Ehimen, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service.
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‎Other members are Mr Mamuzo Erebe, SAN, Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Mr Lucky Nkemachor, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government; Sir A.E. Oghoro, Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Service; Ofobruku; Comrade Chief Benson Efeotor, Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council; Asekutu; and Comrade Dennis Chuks Isichei, Secretary, Joint Negotiating Council, who serves as Secretary to the panel.
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‎The government said the panel had two weeks to establish the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death and enable the state to address the issues within the scope of the law.
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‎In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, on September 25, the government expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and assured civil servants of the safety of their work environment.
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‎The Delta State Police Command has arrested one suspect, identified as Lucky Adoh, in connection with the incident, while two others, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine, are reportedly being sought.
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‎The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and Adeda’s death.
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‎The police have also said that the cause of death has not yet been conclusively established and that it has not confirmed whether an alleged assault directly caused the death.
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‎Investigators are reportedly reviewing video footage, speaking with eyewitnesses, examining medical records and piecing together the events leading to the deputy director’s death.
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‎Meanwhile, the Delta State branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called for the immediate suspension of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
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‎The group said the suspension would help protect the integrity of the investigation and prevent possible interference with witnesses or evidence.
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‎CDHR alleged that there was an altercation involving the commissioner and Adeda and that persons allegedly attached to the commissioner assaulted and detained the deputy director.
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‎The organisation, however, framed its allegations as matters requiring investigation and called for anyone found culpable to face the law irrespective of political position or official status.
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‎“A life has been lost. No title, no office, no PhD exempts anyone from the law,” the organisation said.
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‎CDHR further urged the state government and security agencies to ensure that the investigation was transparent and capable of withstanding public scrutiny.
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‎Ashibogwu has denied ordering or participating in any assault on Adeda.
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He reportedly said he was called to the ministry following a distress call concerning the deputy director and maintained that he did not order anyone to beat him.
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The circumstances surrounding the incident therefore remain the subject of both police investigation and the newly constituted administrative inquiry.
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‎The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) also issued a clarification concerning the botched industrial action, stating that the strike declared by the Delta State NLC was specifically for the state civil service.
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‎NULGE advised its affiliates to report to work as usual.
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‎The development came after workers had shut down the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba and embarked on industrial action demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
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‎With the police investigation ongoing and the Administrative Panel given two weeks to complete its assignment, attention is now focused on the findings of both processes and the actions that will follow.