The University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has acknowledged that it owes the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) an outstanding debt amounting to N495 million.
As a result of this debt, the teaching hospital was disconnected from public power supply. This revelation came amidst a standoff between the hospital’s management and the IBEDC.
UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Adetuyibi, initially denied the debt but later confirmed it, citing an error in her earlier statement.
She clarified that the hospital’s debt to IBEDC stood at N495 million and emphasized that UCH needed assistance to settle this debt, appealing for financial support.
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Workers at UCH responded to the power disconnection by downsizing their working hours, operating from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily until power was restored.
They threatened to escalate their actions by going on a seven-day strike if the hospital was not reconnected by April 9th.
The Joint Action Committee Chairman, Oludayo Olabampe, expressed concerns about the impact of the reduced working hours on patients, highlighting the potential risks associated with limited medical services beyond 4:00 pm.
He emphasized that UCH lacked the financial resources to settle the N495 million debt to IBEDC and called for assistance in resolving the situation.
In summary, UCH’s admission of the N495 million debt to IBEDC has led to operational challenges and prompted workers to reduce their working hours, posing risks to patient care until the debt is resolved.
