UCH Doctors Suspend Night Shift, Begin Strike Tuesday

The University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, has admitted that it owes the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company up to N495m, for which reason the teaching hospital was disconnected from public power supply.

This was as doctors, nurses, and other staff of the hospital refused to work beyond 4.00 pm unless power is reconnected.

UCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, confirmed that the hospital’s electricity debt was over N400m, contrary to her initial claim.

Adetuyibi added that the hospital needed help to settle the debt, stating that it was soliciting funds.

“The truth of the matter is that we are owing IBEDC and we need help. Help is the main thing. We are soliciting for funds; help is what we need.

“The amount is N495m; leave it at N495m. There was an error while we were sending the rejoinder, which I rectified and sent the corrected version. So, let’s leave all these and let’s look for help.

“That’s what we actually need. It’s the help that we need,” she said.

Meanwhile, workers in the hospital had embarked on what they called down-scaling, working from 8.00am to 4.00pm every day until power was restored.

They further threatened to go on a seven-day strike if the hospital was not reconnected before Tuesday, April 9.