UCH Allied Health Workers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Director’s Reinstatement

By Benson Daniel

Allied health workers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have commenced an indefinite strike over the hospital management’s refusal to reinstate its Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr Adeyinka Ishola.

The industrial action, which began on Wednesday, September 16, was declared by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) after several attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and negotiations failed.

The union is demanding the implementation of a recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare concerning the disciplinary case involving Ishola.

The dispute centres on the sale of a tricycle associated with the hospital’s Pharmacy Department. Ishola was removed from office following allegations that he sold the vehicle without obtaining the necessary approval from UCH management.

The union said the matter was subsequently investigated by an independent team constituted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. According to the union, the investigation found Ishola not guilty of fraud but held that he failed to properly carry UCH management along before the sale.

The ministry subsequently recommended that he be reprimanded and reinstated rather than dismissed, the union said.

NUAHP chairman at UCH, Oladayo Olabampe, said the union had given management two ultimatums and pursued other avenues of engagement before deciding to withdraw its services.

He said the union disagreed with the hospital management’s position that the ministry’s recommendation was not final and insisted that the supervisory ministry’s decision should be implemented.

The industrial action involves allied health professionals across several disciplines, including pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, health information managers, medical social workers and dental professionals.

The union has also demanded the payment of financial benefits it says have been withheld from Ishola since the ministry reached its decision on the case.

The dispute has the potential to disrupt services at UCH, one of Nigeria’s major tertiary healthcare and medical training institutions. The hospital has previously experienced industrial action over other operational and welfare issues, including a warning strike earlier in the year linked to electricity supply problems.

NUAHP said the strike would continue indefinitely until its demands are addressed.