EFFECT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISMS ON INDUSTRIAL PEACE AMONG UNIVERSITY-BASED UNIONS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Folorunsho, Olayinka Paul , Abdul Adamu, PhD and Usman A. Yusuf, PhD
Volume 14 Issue 1
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of conflict resolution mechanisms on industrial peace among university-based unions in public universities in North Central Nigeria. The study specifically examined three dimensions of conflict resolution mechanisms: negotiation, mediation, and dialogue. The study was guided by human relations theory. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The target population for this study consists of seven thousand and eighty-nine (7,089) academic and non-academic staff who are members of the major university-based unions (ASUU, NASU, and SSANU) in selected public universities in North-Central Nigeria, including the University of Jos (UNI-JOS), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), and the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA). Primary data was collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire administered to the three hundred and seventy-nine (379) sampled respondents using a two-stage proportionate stratified random sampling technique to ensure balanced representation across the target population. The data collected was analysed using multiple regression at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that negotiation, mediation, and dialogue have a significant positive effect on industrial peace in public universities in North-Central Nigeria. The study recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the university management should ensure that negotiation processes with university-based unions are timely, consistent, and based on mutual trust. Neutral and independent mediators should be regularly involved in resolving disputes between university management and unions, especially when direct negotiations fail. Lastly, the university management and union leaders should institutionalize continuous dialogue mechanisms such as quarterly consultative meetings, joint negotiation committees, and open communication channels. This will help in addressing grievances early before they escalate into industrial actions. Keywords: Conflict Resolution Mechanism, Dialogue, Industrial Peace, Mediation, Negotiation
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