A social media post by former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Joe Abah, criticising a nurse at an Abuja hospital for attempting to sell him plantain chips during a medical visit has generated mixed reactions online.
Abah, in his post, recounted visiting the hospital for a medical consultation, where he was directed to a room for a nurse to check his vital signs.
According to him, while carrying out the routine checks, the nurse mentioned that she also sells plantain chips and indicated that he could purchase some from her.
The former government official expressed displeasure over the encounter, arguing that bringing personal business activities into a healthcare setting could undermine public confidence in the professionalism of medical institutions and the organisations that employ their staff.
However, his comments triggered divided reactions, with some social media users supporting his position on maintaining professional boundaries in the workplace.
Others criticised him for publicly calling attention to the nurse’s actions. They argued that engaging in a side business is not necessarily wrong, particularly given the country’s economic difficulties.
Some critics also raised concerns that identifying the hospital could expose the nurse to disciplinary action or put her employment at risk.
The debate has since highlighted differing views on workplace professionalism, employees’ economic realities and the consequences of publicly criticising workers over their conduct.
