Services disrupted as UCH health workers embark on indefinite strike

Thursday, September 17, 2026 - The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, University College Hospital, Ibadan chapter, has commenced an indefinite strike over the alleged refusal of the hospital management to implement the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s recommendation on the disciplinary case involving the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Adeyinka Ishola.

The union announced the industrial action in a letter to its members at the hospital, saying it would commence on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following what it described as the failure of several efforts to resolve the dispute.

The dispute centres on the sale of a tricycle donated to the Pharmacy Department and the subsequent disciplinary action taken against Ishola.

NUAHP represents 13 of the 15 categories of allied health professionals at the hospital.

The NUAHP Chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, said the union was demanding the implementation of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s recommendation that Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated.

Olabampe said an initial investigation conducted by the hospital had recommended that Ishola be suspended, with the recommendation forwarded to the ministry for ratification.

He said the ministry subsequently sent an independent investigative team to the hospital, which reached a different conclusion.

“The ministry, in its wisdom, sent a team of investigators to UCH to conduct an independent investigation. The panel found Dr Ishola not guilty of any fraudulent act but only guilty of not carrying the management along in the sale of the tricycle,” he said.

He added, “Rather than approving the dismissal recommended by UCH, the ministry, after a thorough investigation, recommended that the director be reprimanded and then reinstated.”

The union chairman accused the hospital management of refusing to implement the recommendation despite the ministry being its supervisory authority.

“We are, however, surprised that the UCH management is not pleased with this outcome and has, for months, refused to implement the verdict of its supervisory ministry,” Olabampe said.

He said the union disagreed with the position of the hospital management that the ministry’s decision was not final.

“We hold a contrary view to that of the management of UCH, which believes that the verdict of the ministry is not final,” he said.

Defending Ishola, Olabampe said the union did not believe that the sale of the tricycle amounted to fraud.

“We hereby declare that Dr Adeyinka Ishola is not a thief, though he might have committed an administrative error by not carrying the management along. Since the ministry has decided that he be reprimanded, we stand by this decision,” he said.

The NUAHP chairman said the union had exhausted its attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue.

“Having dialogued with the management on several occasions to no avail, we have hereby resolved to declare a trade dispute over this matter.

“After two series of ultimatums, we have decided to mobilise our members for an indefinite strike with effect from Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The strike shall continue until our demands are met,” Olabampe added.

Ishola was removed from office more than a year ago following an allegation that he sold the tricycle without the knowledge of the UCH management.

The tricycle was reportedly donated by a pharmaceutical company.

Ishola was said to have told the hospital’s investigative panel that the item was initially a personal gift to him from the company, which he subsequently handed over to the Pharmacy Department.

He reportedly challenged the panel to seek clarification from the donor company on the circumstances surrounding the donation.

Ishola was also quoted as explaining that he decided to sell the tricycle after discovering that its maintenance could be difficult because spare parts might not be readily available, as it was a fabricated model rather than the conventional type commonly used for commercial purposes.

He further explained that the N1.3m proceeds from the sale were used to address various needs of the department, including replacing trolley tyres and laptop batteries and providing office chairs for some offices.

According to his account, the proceeds were fully accounted for, with relevant documents presented to the investigative panel.

The controversy over the ownership and disposal of the tricycle has, however, remained at the centre of the dispute, with the hospital management reportedly maintaining that the item became hospital property after Ishola handed it over to the Pharmacy Department.

The latest industrial action comes amid previous labour disputes at UCH.

In March 2026, workers under the Council of UCH Union Leaders embarked on a five-day warning strike over alleged electricity rationing at the hospital, with the unions citing its impact on surgeries, laboratory services and other clinical operations.

The latest dispute could further disrupt services at the tertiary institution, which serves as a major referral and training centre for patients and health professionals in the country.