The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Delta State on Friday shut the state secretariat in Asaba to protest the death of a Deputy Director, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, following an alleged confrontation at the complex.

The workers locked the entrances to the secretariat, disrupting official activities 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 the alleged incident at the Prof Chike Odozien Secretariat in Asaba.

The protest followed allegations that the deputy director was assaulted during a confrontation involving the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu. Sources familiar with the incident alleged that Ashibogwu asked Adeda whether he knew him, to which the deputy director reportedly replied that he did not.

The allegation of assault has not been independently established, while the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death remain under investigation.

Speaking during the protest, Delta NLC Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku, said workers were concerned about their safety at their places of work.

Ofobruku said the union would engage the state government towards resolving the matter, adding that workers would resume on Monday if the government provided assurances of their safety.

He said the union would remain at home if its concerns were not addressed and called for anyone found responsible for the alleged assault to be held accountable.

The State Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Benson Efeotor, said the council was working to establish what happened. He appealed to the workers to remain calm and avoid violence or destruction of property while discussions with the government continued.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the state government would not sweep the matter under the carpet.

Aniagwu said the government’s immediate priority was to establish the facts and determine the cause of Adeda’s death, noting that an autopsy and medical examination would help clarify what happened.

He assured the workers that the circumstances surrounding the death would be established and that necessary action would be taken based on the findings.