Dr Joan Nike Ada, Peter Isaac Msughter & Nguyima Ahua
Abstract
This study examined dialogue and confrontation as unions-university conflict resolution strategies and universities’ administration in Benue State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a survey design. The population was 40,139 academic staff union of universities, students and non-academic staff union from two public universities in Benue State. The sample size was 381 respondents using Glenn sampling size determination formula through multi-stage sampling procedure. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled: “Dialogue and Confrontation as Unions’-University Conflict Resolution Strategies and Administration of Universities Questionnaire” (DCUUCRSAUQ) with reliability coefficient of 0.83. The data collected were subjected to mean and standard deviation to answer research questions and one sample-test was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that dialogue and confrontation have significant influence on administration of universities. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that authorities of universities should dialogue with staff in order to resolve conflicts in their universities for effective administration. Also conflicting parties should use the democratic norms of confrontation, due process, fairness and express their mind during confrontation.