Title: Labour relations conflict in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria: management and options

Authors: Emmanuel C. Ibara

Addresses: Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Foundations and Management, Rivers State University of Education, P.O. Box, 29, Rumuolumeni Campus, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract: Conflicts in labour relations have become prevalent in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and have had profound implications for effective administration of higher education. The adverse consequence of conflict in tertiary institutions in most cases involving organised labour unions and federal and state governments make the understanding of issues bothering on conflict theories, causes and management very imperative. The recognition of these conflict parameters would assist educational managers at the tertiary level rise to the challenge of issues that are conflictual in labour relations. The paper concludes that in order to realise the goals of higher education in Nigeria, organised labour unions within the higher education system and the government should recognise conflict potentials and deliberately make concerted efforts to minimise its negative consequences.

Keywords: education management; tertiary education; labour relations; conflict; strategies; Nigeria; higher education; labour unions; trade unions; government.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2011.040410

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.168 - 178

Published online: 11 Oct 2014 *

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