The workers made this known on Wednesday during a congress organised by their umbrella body in the hospital, Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State workers have threatened to stay away from work over continued power outage in the hospital.
The workers made this known on Wednesday during a congress organised by their umbrella body in the hospital, Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The congress, which was held in the premises of the hospital, had members of Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU); National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM); Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals Research Institutions and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAN), in attendance.
Speaking shortly after the congress, JAC Chairman, Comrade Oludayo Olabampe, said that the power supply to the hospital had been cut off by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), since March 19, due to a N495 million debt.
Olabampe appealed to the Nigerian government, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the hospital, stressing that workers would not be able to perform their duties as expected unless the power supply was restored.
He said, “The congress is about briefing our members on the actions we have taken on their behalf to address their welfare while the power outage last since Tuesday last week.
“Since Tuesday last week, we have been experiencing total power outage simply because the IBEDC cut our light, they said UCH is owing N495m debt. And they said we must settle a substantial amount before the power can be restored.
“Since that happened, our members have been going through a lot of unbearable conditions to perform their duties. We cannot allow this to continue. So, we felt we must do something to address it. We must let Nigerians know what is happening to UCH. Look at this hospital that served the whole Nigeria. If this is happening to UCH that means it is happening to all Nigerians.
“We want to say that if you come to UCH now you may not get the best of care because of power outage. UCH has been in darkness and nothing is working. We are calling on well to do Nigerians to come to our rescue. People in government. They should help UCH.
“Our members are languishing, they are working like slaves, imagine a situation when you work in a hospital without light. We cannot continue to work in darkness. We don’t want to lose any member.
“Some of our members are exposed to high risks, we cannot pump water, we are using torchlights to work. So, we want to reduce the hazard. We cannot continue to work in darkness.”
However, the hospital has said that it does not owe the IBEDC a N495 million bill, as claimed.
The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, made the denial in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Adetuyibi said that it was not true that the hospital had an accumulated bill of N495 million over the last three years, noting that the present UCH administration under the leadership of Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, assumed office on March 1, 2019, and inherited over N27 million as of February 27, 2019.
Adetuyibi said that “This management has had meetings with the IBEDC management on several occasions.
“Aside that, a payment plan on how to offset the backlog of the outstanding debt has been forwarded to both the consultant of IBEDC and the regional head of IBEDC.
“This payment plan was rejected by IBEDC. They insisted that first payment of N250m should be made within three months.
“This management’s catchphrase is ‘patients’ comfort and staff welfare.’ In essence, the issue of power supply and water supply to the hospital is critical to our operations.
“While we can say that we have outstanding bills to settle with the IBEDC, the hospital management has left no stone unturned in our proactive approach in making sure our teeming patients have access to adequate medical care at all times.”
According to her, the IBEDC had never given 24-hour power supply to UCH, according to the records of the hospital’s internal audit department.
She said that “The narrative of patients’ relations buying sachet water does not arise at all. Even though the hospital does not have optimal water supply due to power outage, we rely on the generator to pump water.
“The hospital has only 45 generators. Out of these 45 generators, some are due for servicing while some are due for replacement.”
Adetuyibi also noted that the hospital’s management had also made available solar inverters in some areas, including all out-patient clinics, Accident and Emergency Department, Endoscopy Suites, ECG Suites, Staff Clinic, Owena Dialysis Ward, and the Medical Microbiology Department, among others.
She said, “As stated earlier, the contention we have with IBEDC is the old bill inherited by this current administration.
“We paid N50 million in January 2024, N55 million in February 2024 and N45 million in March 2024.”
“However, in order to mitigate the effect of power outages, the hospital has set up an energy committee.
“The committee is responsible for raising funds to pay electricity bills and providing solar-powered energy to other service areas in the hospital.
“Aside that, the energy committee is charged with finding a lasting solution, in the short and long term, to the energy problem."