The House of Representatives has taken a strong stance regarding the ongoing power crisis at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, urging the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector to address the issue. This decision follows a motion of urgent public importance raised by Afolabi Afuape during plenary on Wednesday.
The situation at UCH, which has been without consistent power for nearly three months due to an outstanding bill of N495 million with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, has severely disrupted its medical services. The lawmaker emphasized that the blackout has forced patients’ families to bring their own generators and solar inverters to ensure continued operations at the hospital. This disruption has led to the loss of lives and caused emotional distress, which prompted the urgent need for intervention.
The House has called on several key individuals, including the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to act swiftly in restoring power, as well as the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, to provide an action plan and account for the state of affairs at the hospital. Additionally, the Chief Medical Director of UCH has been summoned to provide insights and collaborate with the health ministry to find a long-term solution.
In summary, the House of Representatives is urging immediate action from the federal government to tackle the power crisis at UCH, which is a critical healthcare provider in Nigeria, and to prevent further degradation of its services.
