Industrial Actors` Perceptions of Industrial Disputes in Public Universities

There has always been serious concern about how industrial actors in public universities in Nigeria perceive industrial disputes as a means of enforcing collective agreements jointly reached and signed. A group may likely see industrial disputes as unnecessary and destructive while others may see it as a veritable tool for enforcing their labour rights. This study therefore examined the industrial actors' (university management, academic staff and non-teaching staff) perception of industrial disputes in public universities in Southwest, Nigeria. Descriptive research survey design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of the management staff and all the staff of public universities in Southwest, Nigeria. The sample size of the study was 280 respondents (80 management staff, 100 academic staff and 100 non-teaching staff) randomly selected from four public universities across Southwest geo-political zone. Data was collected through a self-designed questionnaire. T-test analysis was used to analyze the three hypotheses raised at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that there was significant difference in the way university management, academic and non-teaching staff perceive industrial dispute while there is no significant difference in the way academic and non-teaching staff perceive industrial disputes. It is therefore recommended that all the industrial actors in public universities in Southwest, Nigeria should not see industrial disputes as destructive engagement since disputes are naturally part of organizational existence. Effective management of industrial disputes through sincerity of purpose should be adopted by the industrial actors.