The University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, has suspended all night activities following the recent disconnection of light within the hospital by the Ibadan Electricity z Distribution Company
This even as the hospital has st last admitted that it owes the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company up to N495m, for which reason the teaching hospital was disconnected from public power supply, after it had earlier denied owing such amount in debt
The hospital said Tuesday that the development has for Ed it to suspend all night shifts as doctors, nurses, and other staff have refused to work beyond 4.00 pm unless power is reconnected.
UCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, who confirmed the development, said the hospital needed help to settle the debt, stating that it was soliciting funds.
The Ibadan DisCo which noted that the disconnection was the third time in less than three months said it disconnected the hospital after attempts to engage with the hospital’s management regarding the N495m debt, which it said had persisted for over six year
“The truth of the matter is that we are owing IBEDC and we need help. Help is the main thing. We are soliciting for funds; help is what we need.
“The amount is N495m; leave it at N495m. There was an error while we were sending the rejoinder, which I rectified and sent the corrected version. So, let’s leave all these and let’s look for help.
“That’s what we actually need. It’s the help that we need,” she said.
Meanwhile, workers in the hospital had embarked on what they called down-scaling, working from 8.00am to 4.00pm every day until power was restored.
With the development, it was gathered that the hospital has further suspended call duties, shift duties, and no 24-hour services until when power is restored, even as workers have issued a seven-day warning strike after an earlier 14-day ultimatum that started counting on March 27.
