The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has commenced an indefinite strike over the failure of the hospital management to reinstate its Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Adeyinka Ishola.
The union said the industrial action began on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after repeated efforts to secure Ishola’s reinstatement failed.
NUAHP chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, announced the decision at a press conference on Tuesday, saying the union was demanding implementation of a recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Ishola’s case.
The ministry had investigated an allegation involving the sale of a tricycle donated to the hospital’s pharmacy department.
According to Olabampe, the ministry’s investigation found Ishola not guilty of fraud but faulted him for failing to carry the hospital management along before the tricycle was sold.
“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,” Olabampe said.
He said the ministry subsequently recommended that Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated, rather than dismissed as earlier recommended by the UCH management.
The union chairman said NUAHP was surprised that the hospital had allegedly refused to implement the ministry’s decision for months.
“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,” he said.
Olabampe added that the union had issued two ultimatums before deciding to embark on the indefinite strike.
“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,” he said.
What led to the dispute?
Ishola was removed from office last year after he was accused of selling a tricycle without the knowledge of UCH management.
During the investigation by a panel constituted by the hospital, Ishola said the tricycle had been donated voluntarily to the pharmacy department.
He said the tricycle was later sold for N1.3 million, with the proceeds used for departmental needs, including replacing trolley tyres and laptop batteries and providing office chairs.
Ishola maintained that the funds were fully accounted for and that relevant documents were submitted to the investigative panel.
In August, NUAHP issued a 15-day ultimatum to UCH management to reinstate Ishola or face industrial action.
The union also demanded payment of financial benefits it said had been withheld from Ishola since the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reached its decision on the case.
Earlier in September, the union granted management another 15-day extension.
On Monday, NUAHP warned that its members would begin industrial action on Wednesday if its demands remained unmet.
