The Dangote Group has redeployed the refinery engineers earlier disengaged at the peak of the dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to violence-prone states.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE learnt that the affected workers, many of whom were still graduate trainees at the time of their dismissal, had been redeployed to locations in Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, and Ebonyi States.
The move follows federal intervention and negotiations that compelled the company to recall and reassign the workers rather than terminate their employment entirely.
The affected engineers were reportedly given fresh letters titled “Offer of Trainee Engagement” under Dangote Projects Limited which stated that the trainees would undergo classroom and hands-on training for two years tied to Dangote’s coal projects, concrete road construction efforts, and agro-processing plants.
The Chief General Manager, Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, signed the letters which said the affected workers have 14 days to report to their new duty post or forfeit the opportunity.
“This engagement aims to impart skills and enable you to take up positions of responsibility in the organisation,” the letter reads.
However, some of the affected engineers have lamented that the new postings were unclear and potentially dangerous.
They said some could not locate physical office addresses, while others are sighted in security-challenged zones and Google Maps searches showed no trace of the alleged project facilities.
“We fear accepting these letters may automatically terminate our employment, because there’s nowhere to report to,” one of them who does not want to be named said.
It was learnt that PENGASSAN has advised their members not to be in a haste to collect the letters until discussions are concluded.
Sources at the Dangote Group who confirmed the development, said the recall agreement included redeployment to other Dangote ventures both within and outside Nigeria, and that the company will recruit new engineers to fill refinery-specific roles, a move insiders described as “a major talent loss.”
It would be recalled that PENGASSAN went on strike following the termination of over 800 workers who volunteered to join the union.
Dangote, however denied that, saying only a couple of workers involved in what it called facility sabotage were fired.
