Abstract

This paper examines the concept of conflict management and resolution for the sustainability in Nigerian educational institutions. Security and peace are, no doubt, an important aspect of educational management and planning and conflict is unavoidable in the educational sector. To this end, this paper takes a look at the causes of conflict, conflict management and resolution. Some recommendations made among others are that, rigidity should be eliminated during negotiation, internal conflict should not be externalized, dialoguing and bargaining should be used in a fair, honest, equitable and acceptable manner. Conflict is an attendant feature of human interaction and cannot be eliminated; however, its proper management and transformation are essential for peace and progress in human society. It has been observed that Nigerian universities has for decades been faced with so many crisis ranging from conflict between academic staff and university administrators, students versus academic staff, students versus university authorities, non-academic staff versus university administrators. The conflicts have given rise to distrust and hostility among professionals and academics, thus, contributing in hampering smooth, effective and efficient administration in the universities. It also appeared that despite this situation, stakeholders in education seemed to develop nonchalant attitude towards these conflicts. If this role conflict is not checked it can be descriptive and negative as people involved will often see one another as enemies. This is unwholesome for the University community and Nigeria educational system as a whole. This paper examined conflict management in higher institutions of learning with specific reference to Nigerian Universities. Some causes of conflict were identified as well as ways these conflicts could be managed. Well-fashioned recommendations on how conflict could be more effectively managed for the achievement of the system's mission, goals and objectives and in particular the pursuit of industrial harmony in the system were also made.

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