The University College Hospital, Ibadan chapter of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals has commenced an indefinite strike over the management’s alleged failure to implement a recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare concerning the disciplinary case involving the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr Adeyinka Ishola.
The union said the industrial action began on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after several attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue failed.
In a letter circulated to its members at the hospital, the union said the strike would remain in force until its demands were addressed.
At the centre of the dispute is the sale of a tricycle donated to the Pharmacy Department and the disciplinary measures subsequently taken against Ishola.
NUAHP Chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, said the union’s major demand was for UCH management to implement the ministry’s recommendation that Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated.
According to Olabampe, an earlier investigation by the hospital had recommended Ishola’s suspension, with the report sent to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for ratification.
He said the ministry, however, constituted its own investigative team to independently examine the matter and arrived at a different finding.
“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.”
Olabampe alleged that UCH management had refused to act on the ministry’s recommendation despite the ministry’s supervisory role over the hospital.
“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.
The union chairman also rejected the position reportedly held by the hospital management that the ministry’s decision was not conclusive.
“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.
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Olabampe further defended Ishola against the allegation of fraud, arguing that the sale of the tricycle should be regarded as an administrative lapse rather than a criminal act.
“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.
He said the union had pursued discussions with hospital management on multiple occasions but failed to reach a resolution.
“Having dialogued with the management on several occasions to no avail, we have hereby resolved to declare a trade dispute over this matter,” he said.
“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 his position more than a year ago after he was accused of disposing of the tricycle without the knowledge of the hospital management.
The tricycle was reportedly donated by a pharmaceutical company. During the hospital’s investigation, Ishola was said to have explained that the company initially presented the item to him as a personal gift before he transferred it to the Pharmacy Department.
He reportedly urged the investigative panel to contact the donor company to establish the circumstances surrounding the donation.
Ishola also explained that the decision to sell the tricycle was prompted by concerns over its maintenance. According to his account, the vehicle was a specially fabricated model rather than the conventional tricycle commonly used commercially, making its spare parts potentially difficult to obtain.
He reportedly said the N1.3m generated from the sale was subsequently applied to several needs within the department, including replacing trolley tyres and laptop batteries as well as purchasing office chairs.
He maintained that the money was fully accounted for and that supporting documents were submitted to the investigative panel.
The disagreement over who owned the tricycle and whether Ishola had the authority to dispose of it has remained a key issue in the dispute. UCH management reportedly maintained that the item became the property of the hospital after Ishola handed it over to the Pharmacy Department.
The strike adds to a series of labour disputes that have affected UCH in 2026. In March, workers operating under the Council of UCH Union Leaders staged a five-day warning strike over alleged electricity rationing at the institution.
The unions had cited the effect of the power situation on surgeries, laboratory services and other clinical activities.
The latest industrial action could again affect services at UCH, one of the major referral and training hospitals serving patients and healthcare professionals in the region.