Resident doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have declared an indefinite strike following months of power outages that have severely disrupted hospital operations. The strike, which began on Monday, February 19, 2025, comes after repeated complaints about the dire working conditions caused by the lack of electricity.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at UCH had earlier issued an ultimatum to the hospital’s management, demanding the restoration of power to all affected areas by 4 p.m. on Monday. Despite the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reconnecting UCH to the national grid last week, the doctors insist that power supply remains unstable, making it difficult to provide quality healthcare services.
The hospital has reportedly been without a steady electricity supply for over 100 days, leaving both medical staff and patients in distress. The power crisis has also sparked multiple protests, including a demonstration last week by medical students from the University of Ibadan, who barricaded the office of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, to express their frustration over the lack of electricity and water.
UCH management has attributed the blackout to an outstanding electricity bill of approximately N495 million, which led to the initial disconnection by IBEDC. Efforts are currently underway to settle the debt and ensure a stable power supply.
With the strike now in effect, patients and their families fear a further decline in healthcare services. Many have called on the hospital administration and relevant authorities to find an urgent solution to the crisis before lives are put at risk.
