The Delta State Council of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of an Assistant Director in the state Ministry of Education amid reports of an alleged physical altercation involving a serving commissioner.
The TUC said the circumstances surrounding the death had raised serious concerns among workers and called on the state government and relevant authorities to establish what happened.
In a statement on Friday, the state chairman of the union, Comrade Wilson Asekutu, said the TUC was concerned about reports of an alleged confrontation preceding the worker’s death.
Asekutu, however, urged members of the union and the public to remain calm and allow the appropriate authorities to investigate the matter.
He warned against violence, confrontation and the circulation of unverified information, saying allegations should be properly investigated before conclusions were reached.
The TUC chairman said the investigation should examine events leading up to the incident, witness accounts, medical records, documentary evidence and other relevant materials that could help establish the facts.
He also urged those connected with the matter to avoid actions or statements capable of interfering with the investigation or influencing witnesses.
Asekutu said the union would engage the relevant authorities and stakeholders to seek clarification on the circumstances surrounding the death.
He said, “The death of a worker under circumstances that have raised serious concerns deserves appropriate attention from the relevant authorities. The family deserves answers, workers deserve a safe and dignified working environment, and the public deserves confidence in the ability of institutions to establish the facts and uphold the rule of law.”
The TUC chairman said the union’s call for calm should not be interpreted as indifference to the concerns surrounding the death.
He assured workers, particularly those in the Ministry of Education and the deceased’s colleagues, that the union was monitoring developments and would pursue lawful means to ensure that their concerns were addressed.
Asekutu called on the Delta State Government and other relevant authorities to treat the matter seriously and ensure that the investigation was conducted transparently and impartially.
He added that anyone found culpable should face appropriate action in accordance with due process and the law.
The TUC expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, colleagues and associates, and pledged to continue pursuing justice and accountability through lawful means.
