By ebosele@hotmail.com
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience N. Oyekunle, has called on staff of the Ministry to strengthen collaboration and sustain a productive working relationship as activities for the 2026 work year commence.
Mrs. Oyekunle made the call during her maiden Town-Hall Meeting with management and staff of the Ministry, held in Abuja on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, following her assumption of duty in November 2025.
Welcoming staff and wishing them a happy New Year, the Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that 2026 would be a successful year and reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with staff to advance the Ministry’s mandate. She described the opportunity to address staff as a privilege and stressed the importance of fostering a positive work environment, despite prevailing economic challenges.
According to her, while economic realities may pose difficulties, they should not undermine cooperation, teamwork, and productivity within the Ministry.
Mrs. Oyekunle disclosed that since assuming office, she has engaged extensively with Directors and Heads of Units across the Ministry, describing the discussions as productive. She assured staff that management is working collectively to drive the Ministry’s objectives and improve service delivery.
She also acknowledged the support of the Honourable Ministers and expressed confidence that sustained collaboration would enhance operations and ensure alignment with the statutory mandate of the Ministry. As the year begins, she urged staff to remain committed to ongoing initiatives, noting that every officer and staff member plays a critical role in the Ministry’s success.
The Permanent Secretary further called on staff to support the Honourable Ministers in delivering on their commitments in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On digital operations, Mrs. Oyekunle recalled that the Federal Civil Service formally ended manual documentation in 2025 and noted that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was onboarded on December 24, 2025. She said the Ministry is working towards the full implementation of the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system, adding that the transition would be phased, subject to the availability of resources.
She assured staff that adequate training and the necessary tools would be provided to enable effective utilisation of the ECM platform.
Reaffirming her commitment to staff welfare, the Permanent Secretary described it as a top priority. She disclosed plans to ensure full participation in relevant sporting activities, maintain a functional healthcare system through the Ministry’s clinic, and guarantee the prompt payment of repatriation allowances to retirees.
In the area of capacity development, Mrs. Oyekunle said she has directed the Director of Human Resources Management to develop the Ministry’s 2026 training schedule to enhance staff skills and performance.
In his remarks, the Director of Human Resources Management, Mr. Christopher Essien, said the Town-Hall meeting was convened at the instance of the Permanent Secretary, in line with the Ministry’s tradition whenever a new Permanent Secretary assumes office. He noted that the meeting provided an opportunity for staff to share concerns and ideas on moving the Ministry forward and called for a robust and supportive working relationship with the Permanent Secretary.
The highlight of the meeting was a question-and-answer session during which Mrs. Oyekunle responded to issues raised by staff.
