The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has confirmed that the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), recently introduced by Dangote Refinery’s management, has been dissolved following high-level negotiations.

The resolution came after a meeting held on Tuesday at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja, with officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Finance in attendance.

According to Labour Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the DSS venue was chosen to provide a neutral ground for both parties, ensuring an environment where the issues could be addressed thoroughly.

NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, announced that the union and the refinery representatives had signed a binding agreement that allows workers at the refinery to freely unionise. He stressed that no association should be imposed on employees by management in the future.

“The so-called DTCDA created by the refinery has been declared illegal and will not stand. Going forward, no artificial union will be forced on workers,” Akporeha stated.

The union has now suspended its strike action, and loading of petroleum products from the refinery has resumed.

When asked about reports that Dangote’s representatives had previously walked out of talks, Akporeha dismissed the claims, quoting the refinery team as saying the delegate had only stepped out briefly due to health concerns.

The strike, which began after disagreements over workers’ rights and the creation of the DTCDA, had stalled product loading activities. With Tuesday’s agreement, both sides say they have harmonised their positions and reached common ground.

The Ministry of Labour had earlier declared the DTCDA illegal, backing NUPENG’s position that it had no legal basis.