CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated conflict and conflict resolution in higher educational institutions in the South East, Nigeria.  Conflict is very devastative and death laden phenomenon that can destroy the structure of an organization, if necessary, control mechanism is not used to ward off its perpetration in an organization.   Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. One research question guided the study. Population of the study is 5,00 which comprised 3,00 200 male and female staff of University of Port Harcourt and Federal University of Technology Owerri. 60 male staff was selected from university of Port Harcourt. On the other hand, 50 female staff was selected Federal University of Technology Owerri using stratified sampling technique, which gave a total sampling size of 110. Instrument used for data collection was a researcher developed questionnaire “titled conflict and conflict resolution in higher educational institutions in the South East, Nigeria, was used with four rating scale of strongly agree, agree, dis agree and strongly disagree. The instrument was validated by two specialists from department of Business Education, Madonna University Okija campus, Anambra State. Cronbach alpha statistics was used to determine the reliability coefficient of the instrument at 0.78 and 0.97, which shows that the instrument was reliable for use in this study. A total of 110 questionnaires were administered to students with the help of two research assistants and a total of 110 questionnaires were returned non- got missed. Mean scores were used to analyze the data. The finding from this study reveals that causes of conflicts in higher educational institutions in the South East include: inadequate planning, coordination and control. Other causes include: Staff taking order from two different executives, inadequate staff training, rules and regulations, dilapidated facilities and equipment among others. It was recommended from this study that heads of higher educational institutions should organize periodic re orientation program to re-sensitize their staff in higher educational institutions in the South East Nigeria.