UCH Ibadan Strike: Dr. Adeyinka Ishola Reinstatement Demanded

• Health workers at UCH Ibadan began an indefinite strike on September 16, 2026, demanding the reinstatement of Dr. Adeyinka Ishola.
• The strike is due to UCH management's refusal to implement a Federal Ministry of Health recommendation regarding Dr. Ishola's disciplinary case.
• Dr. Ishola was found guilty of an administrative error, not fraud, by a Ministry-led independent investigation concerning the sale of a donated tricycle.
• The Ministry recommended Dr. Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated, a directive the UCH management has ignored for months.
• The NUAHP union exhausted dialogue and issued ultimatums before escalating to an indefinite industrial action.

The Ministry's panel determined that Dr. Ishola was not culpable of any fraudulent activity but was instead guilty of an administrative error, specifically failing to involve management in the sale of the tricycle.

Health workers at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan have initiated an indefinite strike, effective Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The industrial action, spearheaded by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), UCH Ibadan chapter, stems from the hospital management's persistent refusal to implement a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare concerning the disciplinary case of Dr. Adeyinka Ishola, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.

The union communicated its decision to members via a letter, emphasizing that the strike would continue until their demands are met. This escalation follows numerous unsuccessful attempts to resolve the ongoing labour dispute through dialogue. The core of the disagreement revolves around the reinstatement of Dr. Ishola, who was removed from his position over a year ago, and the management's non-compliance with a supervisory ministry's recommendation.

NUAHP Chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, articulated the union's primary demand: the full implementation of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's recommendation. This directive stipulates that Dr. Ishola should be reprimanded for an administrative error and subsequently reinstated to his role, a position the UCH management has, for months, declined to adopt.

The controversy surrounding Dr. Adeyinka Ishola originated from the sale of a tricycle, which had been donated to the Pharmacy Department. Following this incident, the University College Hospital conducted an internal investigation, which concluded with a recommendation for Dr. Ishola's suspension. This initial finding was then forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for ratification, as is standard procedure in Nigeria public sector disciplinary action.

However, the Ministry, exercising its oversight function, dispatched an independent investigative team to UCH. This team's findings diverged significantly from the hospital's initial assessment. The Ministry's panel determined that Dr. Ishola was not culpable of any fraudulent activity but was instead guilty of an administrative error, specifically failing to involve management in the sale of the tricycle. Consequently, the Ministry issued a recommendation that Dr. Ishola be reprimanded and reinstated, explicitly rejecting the more severe disciplinary action, such as dismissal, that UCH had seemingly sought.

Despite the Federal Ministry of Health Ishola recommendation, which came from its supervisory authority, the UCH management has reportedly refused to implement the verdict. The union chairman expressed surprise at the hospital's stance, particularly its belief that the Ministry's decision is not final, a view strongly contested by NUAHP.

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals firmly defends Dr. Adeyinka Ishola, asserting that his actions constituted an administrative error rather than a fraudulent act. According to the union, Dr. Ishola himself informed the hospital's investigative panel that the tricycle was initially a personal gift from a pharmaceutical company, which he later handed over to the Pharmacy Department. He reportedly decided to sell the item due to anticipated difficulties in maintenance and sourcing spare parts, and challenged the panel to verify these details with the donor company.

NUAHP Chairman Oladayo Olabampe emphasized that the union stands by the Ministry's decision for Dr. Ishola to be reprimanded and reinstated, especially given the finding that no fraud occurred. The union has accused the University College Hospital management of disregarding the Ministry's directive, despite its supervisory role, leading to the current UCH Ibadan strike Dr Adeyinka Ishola reinstatement demands.

Having engaged in multiple rounds of dialogue with management without resolution and issuing two ultimatums, the union declared a trade dispute. The NUAHP UCH industrial action is now indefinite, with members mobilized to continue the strike until the hospital management complies with the Federal Ministry of Health's recommendation.

This case highlights the legal and industrial relations risks for public sector institutions in Nigeria when management disregards recommendations from supervisory ministries regarding disciplinary actions, potentially leading to prolonged industrial action. Lawyers should advise clients on the binding nature of such directives and the potential for union disputes over perceived administrative overreach or non-compliance.

Source: Original reporting via Deborah Tolu-Kolawole