The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan has begun an indefinite strike due to prolonged power outages in residential areas. While the hospital was reconnected to electricity after over 100 days, some quarters remained without power, prompting the strike.
Doctors from the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, have initiated an indefinite strike due to prolonged power outages in parts of the hospital’s residential quarters. The situation began after the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) disconnected the hospital from the national grid due to an outstanding N400 million debt. Though the hospital was reconnected to power on Wednesday after over 100 days of blackout, only certain residential areas were restored, leaving other parts without electricity.
The strike follows a previous warning issued by ARD members, stating that if power was not fully restored by 4 pm on Monday, they would be forced to take action. While some areas of the residential quarters have had their electricity restored, doctors and other staff living in other sections continue to face challenges. In a statement, Uthman Adedeji, ARD's secretary at UCH, emphasized that the partial restoration did not meet the hospital's needs and that services would remain disrupted until the situation was fully addressed.
The doctors acknowledged UCH management's efforts to resolve the issue but insisted that the restoration of power across all quarters was crucial for ensuring an uninterrupted work environment. The association also promised to regularly review the situation and keep the public informed on further developments.
