UCH Doctors Suspend Night Shift Over Blackout, Threaten To Embark On Strike

• Workers at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan have embarked on down-scaling, working from 8.00am to 4.00pm every day
• The health workers said they would not resume the night shift until the power supply was restored
• They also threatened to go on a seven-day strike if power was not reconnected before Tuesday, April 9

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

Ibadan, Oyo state - Doctors, nurses, and other staff of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo state have announced the suspension of the night shift over the disconnection of the hospital’s power supply.

The health workers said they won’t work beyond 4.00 pm unless power is reconnected by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

The hospital power supply was disconnected over N495m debt which has persisted for over six years, The Punch reports.

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Why UCH doctors suspend night shift

The Ibadan DisCo disconnected UCH power on March 19, the third time in less than two months.

UCH workers said they would work from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm every day until power was restored.

As reported by SaharaReporters, the Joint Action Committee Chairman, Oludayo Olabampe, said the worker also threatened to go on a seven-day strike if UCH was not reconnected before Tuesday, April 9.

“From today (Tuesday), we will be ending our services by 4.00 pm. Our services will be only between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm; no call duties, no shift duties, and no 24-hour services until when power is restored. From downscaling, we will go on a seven-day warning strike after a 14-day ultimatum that started counting on March 27.”

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Olabampe said patients on admission would need to be discharged, and there would be no new admissions for now.

Tinubu assesses UCH’s buildings

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Bola Tinubu has through Tunji Alausa, the minister of state for health, assessed the structures affected by the Ibadan explosion in UCH.

Alausa visited UCH on Saturday, January 20, to empathise with victims of the week's massive explosion in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Although the explosion happened on Dejo Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, communities several kilometres away felt the impact.

Source: Legit.ng