The Delta State Government has assured the family of late Mr Unity Adeda, a Level 16 civil servant, that justice would be served over his death following an alleged altercation at his workplace.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, gave the assurance on Saturday when he led senior government officials to the deceased’s family to condole with them.
Emu said the full circumstances surrounding the death had yet to be established, as police investigation was ongoing.
He said preliminary accounts indicated that an altercation at the workplace had escalated, adding that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a thorough investigation.
The SSG said some persons connected with the incident had already made statements to the police.
He added that the government had constituted an administrative panel to examine the incident and recommend ways to strengthen conflict-resolution mechanisms in the public service.
“The essence of the administrative panel is not to conflict with the judicial process or the police investigation. It is to help us rebuild our system and enrich our conflict-management process,” Emu said.
He said the government had met with labour leaders following the incident and assured them that the workplace remained safe for civil servants.
Emu said labour had demanded assurances that justice would be served, adding that the government and labour agreed that the police investigation and administrative inquiry should proceed.
“We met with Labour yesterday and what Labour wanted was reassurance that there would be justice. Labour, as well as ourselves, agreed that the administrative panel must be set up and the police must do their job,” he said.
He appealed to civil servants to remain calm and continue with their duties, assuring them that the government was committed to protecting lives and maintaining a peaceful working environment.
“There will be no perversion of justice as far as this case is concerned,” Emu said.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Godwin Akamakusi, the deceased’s in-law, thanked the government for the visit and appealed for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The delegation included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Johnson Erijo; Permanent Secretary in the SSG’s Office, Mr Lucky Nkemachor; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development, Mrs Kevwe Agas; and Executive Secretary, State Pensions Bureau, Mr Lawson Efenudu, among others.
