GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The Delta State Government wishes to formally notify the general public of the sad incident of the death of a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Adeda Ekwevugbe, amidst unclear circumstances in his work place. The incident provoked very serious concerns from colleagues at work and vast sections of the Public Service including Organized Labour and Government.
2. While the Police has commenced investigation into the incident, government has consulted with Organized Labour and jointly agreed to constitute an Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the incident. Accordingly, an Administrative Panel has been constituted as follows:
I. Mrs Charity Ehimen Chairman
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service
II. Mr Mamuzo Erebe, SAN Member
Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Min. of Justice
III. Mr. Lucky Nkemachor Member
Permanent Secretary,
Office of the Secretary to the State Government
IV. Sir, A.E Oghoro Member
Executive Assistant to the Governor, Public Service
V. Comr. Goodluck Ofobruku Member
Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State
VI. Comr. Chief Benson Efeotor Member
Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC)
VII. Comr. Wilson Asekutu Member
Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC)
VIII.Comr. Dennis Chuks Isichei Member/Secretary
Secretary, Joint Negotiating Council (JNC)
3. The Panel has two weeks to complete its assignment of unearthing the circumstances surrounding the death and thereby enable government deal fair and square with all the issues involved and within the scope of the law.
4. Meanwhile, government deeply commiserates with the family of our deceased colleague while also assuring Civil Servants of the safety of our work environment and our abiding respect for the dignity and sanctity of life.
Signed:
Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu
Secretary to the State Government
25th September, 2025
Meanwhile and in a related development the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike following the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
The declaration was made on Friday, September 25, 2026, by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, while addressing protesting civil servants at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba.
The secretariat complex was shut down earlier in the day as workers gathered to protest the incident and government activities are expected to be crippled pending the outcome of investigations, with workers demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The labour action comes hours after the Delta State Police Command announced the arrest of one suspect and declared two others wanted in connection with the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
The Police in statement signed by SP Bright Edafe, identified the arrested suspect as Lucky Adoh, while Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine were declared wanted.
According to the police statement, the incident followed a disagreement involving Adeda and some ministry staff, which was taken to the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
The police said a confrontation allegedly ensued, with Adeda reportedly assaulted by persons attached to the commissioner before he was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.
However, the Command stressed that the cause of death has not yet been established and that it has not confirmed whether the alleged assault directly caused his death.
The homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is investigating the matter, including reviewing video footage, interviewing eyewitnesses and examining medical records.