The Association of Resident Doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, began a three-day warning strike on Monday over a prolonged electricity crisis in the College of Medicine residential axis of the hospital.
The strike, which commenced at 8:00 a.m., followed what the association described as failed engagements with relevant stakeholders and months of institutional neglect of the welfare of doctors and health workers residing in the area.
In a communiqué signed by the association’s President, Dr Uthman Adedeji, and General Secretary, Dr Mary Awodiji, the association said the College of Medicine axis had for several years been the least prioritised by UCH management, with residents enduring severe hardship from epileptic power supply.
The association said the situation worsened significantly from January 2026 when a faulty circuit breaker was removed from the College area to keep the main hospital running, plunging the residential zone into total darkness for months.
“As the least prioritised area, the circuit breaker supplying the College area was sacrificed to keep the main hospital running, and the area was left in darkness without any actionable efforts to rectify the situation,” the communiqué stated.
After seven months, a new breaker was purchased and installed on September 10, restoring electricity to the area. The relief lasted less than two weeks. On September 20, another major electrical fault led to the newly installed breaker being removed again.
The association said a direct consequence of the power crisis had been chronic water shortage, with doctors now sourcing water from private business centres and places of worship within the hospital premises.
It said its members had demonstrated institutional loyalty and restraint but could no longer do so “in the face of perceived nonchalance and disregard” for their welfare, adding that residents were being caught between inter-institutional disputes involving the College of Medicine, the University of Ibadan and UCH management.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,” the communiqué said.
Alongside the warning strike, the association issued a seven-day ultimatum to UCH management, running from Monday, October 12 to Monday, October 19, demanding immediate restoration of electricity to the College of Medicine area, urgent repair of all faulty circuit breakers and uninterrupted power supply across the hospital.
The association warned that if its demands remained unmet after the ultimatum, it would reconvene and may proceed to an indefinite strike. It also stated that going forward, any power outage in a residential area lasting more than five days without restoration would be unacceptable and could threaten industrial harmony.
