By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has commenced an indefinite strike over the non-reinstatement of the hospital’s Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Dr Adeyinka Ishola.
The union announced that the industrial action would begin on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following what it described as the failure of the UCH management to implement the recommendation of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Ishola’s case.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, NUAHP Chairman, Comrade Oladayo Olabampe, said the union’s decision followed several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue.
According to Olabampe, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare conducted an independent investigation into the allegation against Ishola and found him not guilty of any fraudulent act in connection with the sale of a tricycle donated to the Pharmacy Department.
He said the ministry instead recommended that Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated, but that the UCH management had, for months, refused to implement the directive.
“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.
“Rather than approving the dismissal recommended by UCH, the ministry, after a thorough investigation, recommended that the director be reprimanded and then reinstated,” Olabampe said.
He said the union was surprised by the management’s position that the ministry’s decision was not final.
“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.
Olabampe further disclosed that the union had issued two ultimatums to the hospital management before resolving to embark on the indefinite strike.
“Having dialogued with the management on several occasions to no avail, we have hereby resolved to declare a trade dispute over this matter.
“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.
How the Dispute Started
Ishola was removed from office more than a year ago following an allegation that he sold a tricycle without the knowledge of UCH management.
During the initial investigation, Ishola was reportedly said to have explained that the tricycle was a personal gift to him from a pharmaceutical company seeking favourable patronage.
He was also reported to have challenged the investigative panel to seek clarification from the donor company on the circumstances surrounding the gift.
According to the account presented by the union, Ishola voluntarily handed over the tricycle to the Pharmacy Department but later discovered that maintaining it could be difficult because spare parts might not be readily available.
He reportedly explained that the vehicle was a fabricated model rather than the conventional type commonly used for commercial purposes.
Ishola further stated that the N1.3 million realised from the sale of the tricycle was spent on various needs of the Pharmacy Department, including replacing trolley tyres and laptop batteries as well as providing office chairs for some offices.
He maintained that the proceeds were fully accounted for and that relevant documents were presented to the investigative panel.
The union said it would sustain the industrial action until the hospital management implements the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s recommendation on Ishola’s reinstatement.
