UCH Allied Health Workers Launch Indefinite Strike Over Disciplinary Dispute.
UCH Allied Health Workers Launch Indefinite Strike Over Disciplinary Dispute.
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has declared an indefinite strike over unresolved disciplinary issues involving the hospital’s management and the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Adeyinka Ishola. The strike commenced on September 16, 2026, after attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue failed, according to the union.
The core of the disagreement is related to the sale of a tricycle donated to the hospital’s Pharmacy Department and the subsequent disciplinary action taken against Ishola. NUAHP represents 13 out of 15 categories of allied health professionals at UCH. The union’s chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, explained that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had recommended that Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated, not dismissed. An initial internal investigation at UCH had recommended suspension, which was forwarded to the ministry. However, an independent investigation conducted by the ministry’s team found Ishola not guilty of any fraudulent act but guilty of administrative misconduct—specifically, that he did not inform management about the sale of the tricycle.
Despite this, the hospital management reportedly refused to implement the ministry’s recommendation, which was to reprimand and reinstate Ishola. Olabampe expressed disappointment that the hospital dismissed the ministry’s findings, emphasizing that the union does not believe the sale of the tricycle amounted to fraud. He stated, “Dr Ishola is not a thief,” and clarified that the sale was an administrative error, not criminal misconduct. The proceeds from the sale, approximately N1.3 million, were reportedly used to support departmental needs, including replacing trolley tyres, laptop batteries, and office chairs, with proper documentation provided to investigators.
The dispute has persisted for over a year, stemming from allegations that Ishola sold the donated tricycle without management’s knowledge. Ishola explained that the tricycle was initially a personal gift from a donor company, which he later transferred to the Pharmacy Department. He claimed he sold it because maintaining the vehicle would be difficult due to spare parts availability, and used the proceeds to address departmental needs.
The union’s decision to strike follows months of failed negotiations and ultimatums. Olabampe indicated that the union exhausted all dialogue avenues before resorting to industrial action. The strike is expected to disrupt services at UCH, a major referral and training hospital in Nigeria, which has previously experienced labor unrest, including a five-day warning strike earlier in 2026 over electricity rationing.
This ongoing dispute underscores the tensions within Nigeria’s healthcare sector, especially in public hospitals where administrative and disciplinary disagreements can escalate into industrial actions, potentially affecting patient care and hospital operations.
