UCH Employees Protest Two-Week Power Outage, Consider Strike Action

Workers of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State protested against power outage at the medical institution, threatening to down tools if the epileptic power supply continues.

The workers during a congress organised by Joint Action Committee, JAC, the umbrella body of all the unions in the hospital, said they have not had electricity to work in their offices in the last one week.

The congress, which was held in the premises of the hospital, had members of Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU; National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM; Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals Research Institutions and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAN, in attendance.

JAC chairman, Comrade Oludayo Olabampe, while speaking shortly after the congress, noted that the power supply to the hospital had been cut off by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, since Tuesday, 19th March, 2024 due to a N495 million debt.

Olabampe appealed to the Federal Government, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the hospital.

He said the workers would not be able to perform their duties as expected unless the power supply is restored.

“The congress is about briefing our members on the actions we have taken on their behalf, to address their welfare while the power outage lasted since Tuesday last week.

“Since Tuesday last week, we have been experiencing a total power outage simply because the IBEDC cut our light, they said UCH is owing N495m debt. And they said we must settle a substantial amount before the power can be restored.

“Since that happened, our members have been going through a lot of unbearable conditions to perform their duties.

“We cannot allow this to continue. So, we felt we must do something to address it. We must let Nigerians know what is happening to UCH,’’ Olabampe said.