Dangote Refinery Re Employs Sacked Engineers, Redeploys Them to New Project Sites Across Nigeria

Dangote Refinery has begun recalling engineers earlier removed during a dispute with PENGASSAN.

Some workers worry about new postings to remote areas as the union seeks clearer terms before approval.

The Dangote Refinery has started bringing back many engineers who were removed from their jobs last month during its dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN. The workers include graduate trainees and junior engineers.

The re engaged staff members are being given new letters with fresh job postings. They are being sent to several other Dangote projects in different parts of the country. The listed locations include Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto States.

One of the letters seen by reporters carried the title “Offer of Trainee Engagement”. It came from Dangote Projects Limited and offered a role as Engineer Trainee for a coal project in Okpokwu, Benue State. It was signed by the Chief General Manager for Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle. The letter explained that the trainee would undergo two years of classroom and practical training. It also stated that the job can be ended by either side with one month notice or payment in place of notice.

However, some of the returning engineers have raised concerns. They complained about being posted to areas they consider unsafe, and also pointed out that the letters do not clearly explain where they should report when they arrive. One worker said there was no office address in his posting, yet the letter warned that failure to resume within fourteen days could lead to termination.

Because of the complaints, PENGASSAN has advised its members not to sign the new letters until further talks with the company are completed. A senior official in the Dangote Group has said that the redeployment follows an agreement with PENGASSAN to move the affected workers into different business units within and outside Nigeria.

The conflict began when the refinery removed hundreds of staff members who were said to be trying to join the union. The management dismissed the claim and said only a few workers were removed for actions that could damage the refinery. This led PENGASSAN to shut down some key oil and gas facilities, and the Federal Government later stepped in. The government then directed Dangote Group to bring back the dismissed employees or redeploy them.

While the company says the current postings are part of a major restructuring plan, some workers believe they are being punished for asking to join the union. Management continues to deny that view.

The development is happening at a time when Aliko Dangote has announced plans to expand the refinery’s output from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day. The expansion is expected to create more than 65,000 new construction jobs in Nigeria.