Collaborative Negotiation Strategy: A Panacea for Sustainable Industrial Peace in the Educational Sector of Nigeria

Abstract

The persistent occurrence of industrial conflict in Nigeria educational sector particularly at tertiary level has apparently impacted negatively on the standard of education in the country. Past studies had traced the frequency of industrial actions in tertiary institutions to the type of negotiation strategy often employed by both labour leaders and management representatives. This study therefore examined the available negotiation strategies with a view to identifying the appropriate one and subsequently suggests what could be done for the two parties to voluntarily embrace the negotiation strategy considered appropriate and effective to achieve sustainable industrial peace. Using the archival method, the study observed that competing negotiation strategy was predominantly used in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. And due to the confrontational and judgemental nature of the strategy, it could not stem the tide of incessant incidences of industrial action. Also, the study observed that the choice of competing negotiation strategy by both parties was probably due to their negative perception about each other and their behavioural orientation that is grossly defective. Based on the observation and the theoretical framework, it was suggested that training programme on some identified Behaviour Modification Skills (BMS) be organized for both parties. It is anticipated that by acquiring the skills, both parties would consciously change their negative perception to positive and their behavioural orientation would equally be enhanced. Thus, both parties would be willing to apply voluntarily the collaborative negotiation strategy considered appropriate and effective to attain sustainable industrial peace in our tertiary institutions.