Nurse Rufus Favour Mojisola and Her CHEW bosses Saga not based on jealousy but proudness and lack of humbleness

By 

Comr. Abdulkareem Yusuf Opeyemi 

Irreducible Eminent 

+2349033726329

September 16, 2025

Dear Esteemed Leaders and Fellow Nigerians,

I am writing this open letter as a concerned healthcare professional and resident of Kwara State, deeply committed to the integrity, professionalism, and excellence of our healthcare system. 

It is with a heavy heart but a resolute sense of duty that I address the recent petition and public statements made by Nurse Rufus Favour Mojisola, a registered nurse posted to the Ekan Primary Health Center (PHC) in Oke-Ero Local Government Area (LGA). 

Her allegations, which have gained traction through media outlets and social platforms, paint a distorted picture of mistreatment, professional jealousy, and systemic malpractices. After conducting my own independent investigation—speaking with colleagues, reviewing available records, and cross-referencing public reports—I have concluded that the majority of her claims are unfounded, exaggerated, or outright fabrications. 

This letter aims to set the record straight, defend the reputation of dedicated health workers in Oke-Ero, and call for measures to curb such disruptive behaviors that undermine our healthcare institutions.

First, let us outline the key allegations raised by Nurse Rufus Favour Mojisola in her petition to the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and subsequent media reports. 

According to accounts published in Sahara Reporters on September 12, 2025, she claimed to have been subjected to physical assault, including being slapped by the HOD, Helen Bosede Olawuyi, and forced to kneel in her uniform for two hours in the HOD's office on September 9, 2025. She further alleged humiliation in front of patients, issuance of a query letter with 11 false charges, and a suspicious transfer to an allegedly unsafe facility. 

Additionally, she accused her superiors—the Officer in Charge (OIC) and HOD—of professional jealousy, suggesting they were envious of her role as a nurse and undermined her by assigning duties outside her scope. She also raised concerns about unsafe practices at the facility, such as the reuse of syringes and improper glove usage during deliveries. These claims have been amplified on social media, including posts on X (formerly Twitter) by accounts like @FellowNurses1 and @Nursingworld_Ng, which detailed her narrative of harassment and called for intervention.

While I acknowledge that workplace disputes can occur in any profession, my investigation—drawing from direct conversations with colleagues at the Ekan PHC, reviews of internal communications, and observations from those familiar with the situation—reveals a starkly different reality. 

The majority of Nurse Rufus's assertions appear to be motivated by personal grievances rather than factual events. For instance, her claim of being forced to kneel in uniform for hours is categorically false. No such directive was issued by her superiors, and witnesses confirm that no incident of this nature occurred on September 9, 2025, or any other date. This allegation seems designed to evoke public sympathy and sensationalize a routine disciplinary process. Similarly, reports of physical assault, such as slapping, lack corroboration from impartial sources and contradict accounts from staff present during the relevant meetings.

Furthermore, Nurse Rufus has portrayed her professional role narrowly, insisting that her duties as a nurse are limited solely to administering immunizations and injections. This is a gross misrepresentation of the nursing profession in Nigeria. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which regulates the profession under the Nursing and Midwifery (Registration, etc.) Act, the scope of practice for registered nurses is comprehensive and multifaceted. 

It includes not only immunization and injections but also patient assessment, record-keeping, health education, antenatal care, delivery assistance (where qualified), and collaboration in primary health care delivery. The NMCN's guidelines, aligned with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) curriculum for nursing and midwifery schools, explicitly empower nurses to handle immunization schedules, maintain accurate vaccination records, monitor adverse effects, and integrate these into broader community health services. In primary health centers like Ekan PHC, nurses are expected to multitask, including administrative tasks such as documentation and reporting, which are essential for effective healthcare delivery. 

By downplaying these responsibilities, Nurse Rufus not only misinforms the public but also devalues the holistic training provided by NMCN-accredited institutions.

Another troubling aspect of her petition is the accusation of professional jealousy from the OIC and HOD. Why, indeed, would senior officers—experienced professionals in their own right—harbor envy toward a junior nurse? 

Each role in our healthcare system, from Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) to nurses and doctors, has its unique value and impact on patient lives. The OIC and HOD are not rivals but leaders tasked with ensuring smooth operations. My inquiries reveal that Nurse Rufus has a history of rudeness and insubordination toward the OIC and other staff at the Ekan PHC. Colleagues report instances where she displayed disrespectful behavior, escalating conflicts unnecessarily and even extending her confrontations to the Local Government Chairman's office, bypassing the Health Department's HOD. 

This pattern of conduct suggests that any disciplinary actions taken were justified responses to maintain order, not acts of malice or envy.

Regarding her claims of malpractices, such as syringe reuse and improper procedures, these too lack substantiation. While I do not have exhaustive details on every operational aspect, my research and on-ground feedback indicate that the Ekan PHC adheres to standard protocols. 

More broadly, Kwara State's primary healthcare system is exemplary, having been recognized as the best-performing state in the North Central region for the 2023/2024 Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge, securing a $500,000 award from the Nigeria Governors' Forum. Oke-Ero LGA, with over 10 health facilities, boasts the Ekan PHC as one of its top performers, contributing to improved immunization coverage, maternal health, and community outreach. 

Studies on primary healthcare in the area, such as those examining Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero, highlight prospects for growth despite challenges, but no widespread malpractices have been documented. Baseless accusations like these erode public trust and demoralize hardworking teams.

To contextualize Nurse Rufus's behavior, it is worth noting that rudeness and workplace conflicts among nurses are not isolated issues in Nigeria. A systematic review of workplace violence against nurses reveals a prevalence of verbal abuse at 51.2%, threats at 23.3%, and other forms of aggression, often stemming from inter-professional tensions. Another study in Enugu State found high rates of workplace bullying among nurses in tertiary hospitals, with implications for job performance and patient safety. In Nigerian hospitals, perceived causes of conflict include injustice, lack of respect from other professionals, and unreasonable expectations, affecting 95.6% of respondents in one survey. 

Doctor-nurse conflicts, often rooted in power imbalances, further exacerbate these issues, leading to strained relationships and reduced healthcare quality. A phenomenological study on nurse-physician conflicts in Nigerian hospitals underscores the need for better conflict management skills among nurse tutors and practitioners. These statistics highlight a broader problem: while most nurses uphold exemplary standards, a minority engage in disruptive behaviors that fuel unnecessary disputes. Nurse Rufus's case appears to fit this pattern, where rudeness toward superiors and colleagues has led to self-inflicted professional challenges. This arrogance extends particularly to inter-professional relations, where many nurses exhibit reluctance to collaborate with Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), viewing them as subordinates despite CHEWs' crucial role in preventive and community-based care. Social media discussions frequently lament this "dragging" between nurses and CHEWs, with nurses often perceived as arrogant, hindering teamwork in primary health settings and contributing to the overall prevalence of rivalry reported at 90.9% among healthcare professionals.

Esteemed leaders, this is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger nuisance plaguing our healthcare system in Kwara State and across Nigeria. False petitions and media sensationalism distract from genuine improvements, waste resources on investigations, and foster division among health workers. I urge the Kwara State Government, under Your Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to investigate these claims thoroughly but also to implement stricter oversight on professional conduct. The NMCN should reinforce ethical training in its curricula, emphasizing respect, teamwork, and accurate representation of one's scope of practice. Local government authorities in Oke-Ero must protect exemplary facilities like Ekan PHC from defamation while addressing any verifiable issues promptly. I also appeal to all authorities, associations, or bodies that may be backing Nurse Rufus's claims merely to instigate further discord and division—back off now and allow for a fair, impartial investigation free from external pressures. As a problem in one zone is a problem for all, let us address this collectively to strengthen our health system rather than allowing it to fester and spread.

Moreover, national bodies like the Federal Ministry of Health and NANNM should develop policies to deter frivolous complaints, perhaps through mandatory mediation before public escalation. We must stop the nuisances caused by errant nurses—rudeness, insubordination, and baseless allegations—that hinder progress in our health sector. Everyone is the boss of their own professionalism; no one should weaponize their position to sow discord.

In conclusion, Nurse Rufus Favour Mojisola's petition, while drawing attention, is built on shaky foundations. Let us rally behind our dedicated health workers in Oke-Ero and Kwara State, who continue to deliver quality care despite challenges. I call on all stakeholders to prioritize truth, unity, and excellence. Together, we can build a healthcare system that truly serves Nigerians.

Yours sincerely,

A Concerned Healthcare Professional and Citizen of the Country.

Cc:

The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The Chairman and Members of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Society of community health technologist and scientists of Nigeria

The Executive Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government Area.

The Head of Department (HOD) of Health, Oke-Ero LGA.

The Kwara State Ministry of Health; and All Concerned Stakeholders and Citizens of Kwara State and Nigeria