By Nwanneka Okechukwu
The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prof. Charles Ofegbu, today May 19, held his first official meeting with staff of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources aimed at familiarizing with the staff members and repositioning the ministry to a greater height.
Addressing the staff, Prof. Ofegbu said that he operates an open-door policy and described himself as a business-oriented administrator.
He highlited the importance of punctuality and dedication to duty, noting that effective service delivery can only be achieved through discipline and professionalism.
Speaking on his mandate from Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the commissioner said he was still settling into office and made it clear that he had no intention of discarding the achievements of the past.
“Without the past, there will be no present, and without the present, there will be no future. To achieve a better future, we must improve on the past,” he said.
Prof. Ofegbu expressed concern over what he described as a shortage of professionals within the ministry. According to him, the Ministry, being highly specialized, requires personnel with expertise in areas such as Geology, Mining, Petroleum Science, and other related disciplines.
He assured staff members of his commitment to repositioning the ministry for greater efficiency and growth, including the provision of training and capacity-building programs for workers.
The commissioner further promised that employees whose academic qualifications do not align with their current responsibilities would be reassigned to departments that match their areas of specialization, urging members of staff to remain committed to their duties, stressing that meaningful progress in the ministry can only be achieved through hard work and professionalism.
Prof. Ofegbu also revealed plans to align the ministry’s operations with the governor’s vision for the state’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources sector. He said efforts were underway to establish structures similar to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Anambra State, as well as a Solid Minerals Fund and related industries.
According to him, these initiatives can not succeed without the active involvement of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
He added that there will be strong synergy between the ministry and the company established by the Governor, noting that the collaboration would promote professionalism and ensure successful outcomes in the sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr Ojeyinka Bayo, congratulated the new commissioner on his appointment and urged the staff to continue working diligently toward the achievements of the Ministry goals, stressing the need for zero tolerance on lateness and laziness.
Nwanneka is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
