ISSUES AND PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFECTIVENESS IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Industrial conflict is a frequent occurrence in Nigerian universities. This study examined issues and problems of industrial conflict management and administrative effectiveness in government-owned universities in Nigeria. The study was a descriptive survey of the correlation type.  Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 10 universities as sample from the 17 existing public universities in the south west region of the country. A researcher-designed questionnaire tagged “Questionnaire on Labour Disputes, Management Strategies and Administrative Effectiveness” (QLDMSAE) was used to collect data. The reliability test of the instrument was carried out and the Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.71.  Percentages and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Statistic were used for data. The findings revealed that inadequate staff welfare among others was the major cause of industrial conflict (57.2% highest participants); mediation was commonly employed by the management to resolve industrial conflict (77.7% participants). Significant relationship existed between participatory decision-making and administrative effectiveness (r = 0.572, P<0.05) and between mediation and administrative effectiveness in Government-owned universities in Nigeria (0.347, P<0.05). The study recommended that staff welfare should be given priority to prevent frequent occurrence of industrial conflict to ensure effective administration in Government-owned universities in Nigeria.