By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The Delta State Civil Service has been thrown into a sombre mood following the death of Mr. Unity Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, prompting the postponement of a major ceremony to honour retired top civil servants in the state.
The Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, announced the postponement of the Send-Forth Ceremony for the immediate past Head of Service, retired Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, earlier scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026.
The ceremony will now hold on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The decision came against the backdrop of the unfortunate passing of Mr. Adeda, whose death has cast a pall of grief over the state’s civil service community.
The postponement is seen as a mark of respect for the deceased and an expression of solidarity with his family and colleagues at a difficult moment.
In a demonstration of the administration’s concern over the loss, the Office of the Head of Service has also reached out to the family of the late Deputy Director.
A delegation from the Directorate of Establishments and Pensions, Office of the Head of Service, visited the bereaved family to convey the condolences of Dr. Oseji.
The delegation comprised Mr. Aki O. Best, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics; Mr. G. Ofuaneme, Director, Pensions; and Mrs. Ivi Pretty, Director, Management Services.
The officials conveyed the sympathy of the Head of Service and the entire state civil service to the family, assuring them of the administration’s solidarity in the wake of the loss.
The visit highlighted the human dimension of the civil service, where the loss of a colleague reverberates beyond the workplace and touches the wider community of public servants.
The postponement of the send-forth ceremony means that an event originally planned to celebrate years of service and institutional contributions by retired senior officials will instead take place after a period of mourning within the service.
The October 5 ceremony is expected to provide an opportunity for the state civil service community to honour the immediate past Head of Service and other retired Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments whose years of service contributed to the administration of the state.
For now, however, the attention of the civil service community remains focused on the family of the late Mr. Adeda, as colleagues mourn the loss of a senior officer and extend their condolences to his loved ones.
The rescheduled Send-Forth Ceremony will hold on Monday, October 5, 2026.