Petroleum Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Oyekunle Calls for Collaboration, Charts 2026 Roadmap at Maiden Town-Hall

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience N. Oyekunle, has urged staff to strengthen collaboration and maintain a productive working relationship as the Ministry kicks off its 2026 activities.

Addressing Management and staff during her first Town-Hall Meeting since assuming office in November 2025, Mrs. Oyekunle welcomed employees and wished them a prosperous New Year. She expressed optimism that 2026 would be a year of progress and reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with staff to advance the Ministry’s objectives.

Describing her presence at the gathering as a privilege, she emphasized the importance of fostering a positive working environment despite prevailing economic challenges. “Economic realities may pose difficulties, but they should never hinder cooperation or productivity within our Ministry,” she said.

Since assuming office, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that she has held extensive discussions with Directors and Heads of Units across the Ministry, describing these engagements as constructive. She expressed gratitude for the continued support of the Honourable Ministers and noted that strong collaboration is essential to align Ministry operations with its statutory mandate.

Highlighting the critical role of staff in achieving the Ministry’s goals, Mrs. Oyekunle called on all employees to commit fully to ongoing initiatives. She further urged staff to support the Honourable Ministers in delivering on commitments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On digital transformation, she recalled that the Federal Civil Service formally ended manual documentation in 2025 and confirmed that the Ministry was fully onboarded on the Electronic Content Management (ECM) system on 24 December 2025. She assured staff that training and necessary tools would be provided to ensure effective use of the ECM platform, with full implementation phased according to available resources.

Reaffirming her dedication to staff welfare, Mrs. Oyekunle highlighted plans to maintain a functional healthcare system through the Ministry clinic, encourage participation in sporting activities, and ensure prompt payment of repatriation allowances to retirees. She also directed the Director of Human Resources Management to finalize the Ministry’s 2026 training schedule to enhance staff capacity and development.

Mr. Christopher Essien, Director of Human Resources Management, said the Town-Hall meeting was convened following Ministry tradition whenever a new Permanent Secretary assumes office. He described the forum as a vital platform for staff to voice concerns, share ideas, and strengthen working relationships with the leadership.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing Mrs. Oyekunle to respond directly to staff queries and reinforce her commitment to an open, collaborative, and forward-looking Ministry

Permanent Secretary Mrs. Patience N. Oyekunle calls for stronger collaboration, staff engagement, and digital transformation at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources’ maiden Town-Hall Meeting, outlining the Ministry’s 2026 roadmap.