Doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, under the umbrella of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), have commenced an indefinite strike due to ongoing power issues in the hospital’s residential areas.
The association’s General Secretary, Dr. Uthman Adedeji, confirmed the strike action, which follows persistent power disruptions that have severely affected both the doctors’ living conditions and their ability to provide proper patient care.
Although electricity had been partially restored to the hospital after a prolonged 100-day outage, only certain sections of the residential quarters were reconnected, leaving other areas still without power.
Dr. Adedeji expressed frustration, stating that despite the management’s efforts, the restoration was incomplete and insufficient to ensure uninterrupted service for the doctors and their families.
In a statement, the ARD emphasized that they had previously communicated the need for full restoration of power by 4 p.m. on Monday, and in the absence of a comprehensive solution, they were left with no choice but to proceed with the strike.
The association acknowledged the steps taken by UCH management but maintained that more urgent action is necessary to secure an environment conducive to both patient care and the welfare of the medical staff.
The doctors also expressed concern over the impact of the power crisis on patient care, highlighting how the ongoing electricity issues had contributed to avoidable delays and complications.
They reiterated that the strike will continue indefinitely until all parts of the residential quarters are properly reconnected and a reliable power supply is assured. Regular reviews of the situation will be held to assess progress and determine further steps.
