Is it customary to apply a coat of paint to repaired drywall holes?

A friend of mine patched up some drywall holes( in my apartment) and put a coat of white paint over each hole, one large and a few small. The wall paint is more of an eggshell. He said this is customary because the walls will be painted anyway, but these white patches of paint seem unnecessary. I'm concerned because I am in an apartment, although I've been here for 8 years.