Dangote Refinery Recalls Previously Sacked Engineers After Dispute With PENGASSAN

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has approved the recall of engineers who were previously dismissed or redeployed during its prolonged dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The company confirmed the decision in a statement released on Thursday, describing the move as part of what management called a conditional pardon following an internal review process and multiple appeals from stakeholders and affected staff.

According to the refinery, the decision came after management reassessed earlier disciplinary actions taken in response to operational disruptions and concerns over activities it believed threatened refinery operations.

In an internal communication shared with employees, the company stated that the recall followed “an extensive review process” as well as appeals from respected individuals, stakeholders, and the engineers themselves.

The refinery explained that while previous disciplinary actions were necessary to protect operational integrity and maintain organisational standards, management has now chosen to offer affected staff a second chance.

Under the directive, all engineers who were previously redeployed to other business units will now be invited for meetings before being reassigned to resume duties at the refinery.

The recall also extends to workers who initially declined earlier redeployment options offered by the company.

The memo authorising the decision was reportedly signed by Devakumar Edwin, Group Vice President, Oil & Gas.

Management emphasised that the recall reflects both fairness and the company’s willingness to provide another opportunity, but also made it clear that discipline and professionalism remain central to refinery operations.

In its statement, the company stressed that loyalty, adherence to corporate values, and professional conduct are non-negotiable expectations for all employees.

Dangote Refinery also issued a strong warning that any future misconduct or actions deemed capable of disrupting operations would attract immediate and decisive disciplinary action.

The company maintained its zero-tolerance stance on activities that could undermine productivity or operational stability.

At the same time, management expressed optimism about reintegrating the returning engineers, stating that it expects renewed commitment from staff as the refinery continues efforts to improve operational efficiency and strengthen its role in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The company welcomed the affected workers back, saying it looks forward to working collaboratively to deliver excellence and support long-term industry growth.

The recall follows months of tension between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN.

In October 2025, several engineers were dismissed amid allegations by the company that certain workers were involved in sabotaging refinery operations.

However, affected employees and union representatives rejected the accusations, claiming the dismissals were linked to workers’ decision to join PENGASSAN.

The dispute quickly escalated, with PENGASSAN shutting down multiple oil and gas facilities in protest over claims that approximately 800 refinery workers had been fired for union-related activities.

The industrial action disrupted operations across parts of the oil and gas sector, contributing to national production losses and a decline in power generation.

At the time, Dangote Refinery denied dismissing such a large number of employees, insisting that only a small number of workers were affected as part of an internal reorganisation process targeting operational sabotage.

The standoff eventually prompted intervention from the Federal Government, which stepped in to broker peace between the refinery and labour representatives.

As part of the resolution process, Dangote Group was encouraged to reconsider its actions and redeploy affected workers where possible.

The latest recall appears to be a direct outcome of those reconciliation efforts, potentially bringing closure to one of the most high-profile labour disputes in Nigeria’s energy sector in recent years.

For industry observers, the development is being seen as a positive step toward restoring stability at the multi-billion-dollar refinery, which remains central to Nigeria’s ambitions for fuel self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on imports.

With the recalled engineers expected to return, attention will now shift to how effectively the refinery manages staff relations while maintaining uninterrupted operations moving forward.