Management of Industrial Conflicts in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions (A Study of Federal Polytechnical Oko 2004-2012)

ABSTRACT Conflict management is inherent in any organization since conflict is inevitable in our contemporary organizations. Effective management of conflicts had become a problem in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Tertiary institution where solely established to meet the needs of human resources required for national development. In regard to the current context of higher educations, the essences of instituting the tertiary institutions seem to have eluded Nigeria. As a result of interdependent linkage among the developmental processes, education as well as environmental factor and natural resources, federal government in the year 1947 provided a permanent machinery for restoring industrial harmony, but ideals do not approximate reality, conflicts had become more complex, intense and of longer duration. The study therefore examines the conflict management strategies in the tertiary institutions and the difficulties in conflict management. Survey research design was used in carrying out the research. Data was collected in from five different categories of union members in federal polytechnic Oko from where the sample size of 693 respondents was drawn Primary and secondary sources were used in data collection. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Simple percentage was used for research questions while chi – square was employed for testing of the hypotheses. The study revealed that the conflicts in the campus are occasioned by the inability of the management to meet the welfare needs of the workers. The study further revealed that violation of the previous agreement reached by both parties water the efficacy of conflict management and exacerbate industrial conflicts. Lastly study of revealed that unilateral mode of management in handling the conflict makes conflict management in the federal polytechnic Oko ineffective. The researchers therefore recommend collective bargaining as strategies for resoling conflict and training labour leaders on conflict management.