A Nigerian nurse living abroad has taken to social media to advise Nigerians working overseas on the importance of reporting workplace misconduct, harassment, and bullying. In her post, she emphasized the need to prioritize self-advocacy and documentation over the cultural tendency to avoid conflict or “let God fight for me.”
The nurse highlighted several scenarios where reporting is essential, including instances of covert bullying, inappropriate behavior, or violations of workplace policies. “If you see someone doing something against the policy at work, report them. If you feel any covert bullying, report it! Someone says something that makes you feel uncomfortable? Report. Did someone touch you or say something inappropriate to you at work? Report,” she stated.
She addressed a common cultural trait among Nigerians, which is the reluctance to report offenders out of pity or fear of causing someone to lose their job. She noted that such kindness might not be reciprocated if roles were reversed. “We have a culture of pitying people and not wanting to be the reason why someone loses their job, but if the roles were reversed, they would report you or do the same to you,” she warned.
The nurse urged Nigerians abroad to adopt a more proactive approach by keeping written records of incidents through emails and reporting them formally. She also advised against confrontational behavior, warning that raising one’s voice or reacting angrily could lead to being labeled the aggressor.
“Every workplace has a zero-tolerance policy against workplace violence, so if you have a trail of emails about bullying in the workplace and nothing has been done about it, sue the organization,” she added.
Concluding her message, the nurse encouraged Nigerians abroad to balance their faith with action, leaving the “let God fight for me” mindset behind. “Do your own and let God do the rest,” she said.
