College of Medicine students of the University College Hospital staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday over the persistent blackout at the hospital.
The protest, supported by the Students Union of the University of Ibadan, was held as early as 7:00 a.m.
The leader of the students, Bolaji Aweda, said the protest became necessary following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the management of both UI and UCH.
Mr Aweda, who alleged a power play among the stakeholders, added that the lack of electricity had lasted over 82 days.
According to him, the situation has affected the living conditions of students and their academics, making them unable to function well.
Mr Aweda said, “Our demand is the immediate restoration of power to UCH and other hospitals currently facing a similar situation.
“We desire the implementation of the 50 per cent electricity tariff discount announced by the Ministry of Power in August 2024 and the reform of the health sector in Nigeria.
“If UCH, the foremost healthcare hospital in Nigeria, is this bad, one can imagine what other health institutions in the country will look like.”
Also, a former leader of the students, Tobiloba Samuel, said they had explored consultative means with the managements of UCH and UI, which yielded nothing.
He said the union would issue an ultimatum after the peaceful protest if the relevant stakeholders failed to act.
Mr Samuel noted that the problem had been the new policy in the power sector, which made electricity unaffordable to educational and health institutions.
He said they were told the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company had demanded the payment of half of the N3.78 million owed before reconnecting the hospital.
“I don’t know how they expect them to pay. We are calling on the ministry of education, which plays a regulatory role in the sector, to act. We are calling on the federal government and other stakeholders, not only to save UCH, but other educational and health institutions in similar situations,” Mr Samuel said.
There was no official of the UCH management to address the protesters, but security officers were present to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
When contacted, the UCH Joint Health Sector Union chairman, Oladayo Olabampe, said the union was unaware of the protest.
“The organisers have no identity. I have nothing against it, but no union in UCH is involved to the best of my knowledge,” Mr Olabampe said.
The students, dressed in black tops, proceeded to UI.
(NAN)
