CONFLICT MANAGEMENT- A CATALYST TO FUNCTIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Conflict, Conflict management, conflict resolutions, Tertiary Institutions, AdministratorsAbstract
The administrator situates the center of a web of interactional relationships within the institution's social system. He is responsible for the generation of most orders (communication) in the organization (institution) to the subjects. These orders are dynamic and capable of generating different variants of conflict or disagreements arising from cultural differences, communication barriers, personal biases, and work-related stress from the personnel within and outside the institutional environment, hence the need for conflict management. Effective conflict management will not only improve the functionality of the academic and non academic personnel but will also ensure a sound and functional academic environment for the students. This work therefore emphasizes the role of the administrator in managing and resolving conflicts to make for a functional institutional climate. The work brings to fore the various types of conflict within the tertiary institution: its sources and strategies that can be employed to resolve conflicts. The efficacy of each strategy was also considered and concluded that no single conflict management strategy was all-embracing hence administrators should have a deep grip of factors that contribute to conflict resolution. It was recommended that administrator’s in tertiary institutions should be trained and retrained on the use of modern conflict management strategies to improve the overall school performance. Furthermore, concerted not rigid effort should be implied in resolving conflict.
References
1. Adekile, O. M. (2017). A Critique of the Laws Regulating Universities in Nigeria. Law and Practice of University Governance in Nigeria O.Oluyide Ed. Pp 572-616. https://ssrn.com/abstract-3328540. (Retrieved on 25th June 2026).
2. Adeyemi, T. O. &Ademlua, S. O. (2021). Conflict Management Strategies and Administrative Effectiveness in Nigerian Universities. Journal of emerging trends in educational research and policy studies, 3(3), 368-375.
3. Akpan, I. F., Udofia, S. E. & Thomas, N. (2016). Innovative Use of ICT in Science Teacher Education for Sustainable National Development. Journal of Nigeria Association for Educational Media and Technology, 20(1): 37-44.
4. Alabi, A. T. (2002). Conflicts in Nigerian Universities: causes and management. Ilorin journal of education, 21(1): 15-28.
5. Aldag, R. J. & Kuhuzara, L.W. (2002). Organizational Behaviour and Management, An Integrated Skills Approach. USA South-western: Thomson Learning.
6. Anja, S.N.&Bassey, U. U. (2006). Conflict Management strategies: A collaborativeapproach in school, colleges and universities. Bamenda: Patron Publishing HouseInternational Paper Backs.
7. Anyanwu, O. I. (2021). NUC Names 198 Federal, State & Private Universities in Nigeria. https://www.komu.edu.ng. (Retrieved on 21st June 2026).
8. Bailey, S.K. (1971). Preparing Administrators for conflict resolution.
9. Carpenter, S.L. & Kennedy, W.J. D. (1988). Managing public dispute: A practical guide to handling conflict and reaching agreement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
10. Dubrin J.A. (1992). Human relations: A Job oriented approach (5th Ed.). New Jersey:Prentice Hall.
11. Denga, D. I. (1982). Managerial Psychology in work organizations. Jos: Savanna Press Ltd.
12. Ereh, C. E., & Thomas, N. A. (2018). Management of Student Personnel Service and Students’ Academic Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Akwa-Ibom State. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research. 6(3): 502-520.
13. Folgers, J.& Shubert, J.J. (1995). Resolving student-initiated grievances in higher education: Dispute resolution procedures in a non-adversarial setting. National Institute for Dispute Resolution Report, no. 3. National Institute for Dispute Resolution.
14. Hadnagy, C. (2024). Conflict Avoidance: Understanding How it can affect you. https://www.linkedin.com. (Retrieved on 23rd June 2026).
15. Hanson, E. M. (1991). Educational I administration and organizational behaviour. Toronto:Allyn & Bacon.
16. Hogg, M.A. (2016). Social Identity Theory. In: McKeown, S., Haji, R., Ferguson, N. (Editors) Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory. Peace Psychology Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29869-6_1.
17. Ibingha, B.0. (2002)) Organizations conflict and work effectiveness in theory institution in Maor, NanigneBalCwinPi.D
18. Iloakasia, A. J. (2022). Causes of conflict and its management strategies in Anambra State tertiary institutions. International journal of innovative social sciences & humanities research, 10(1): 17-24.
19. Konstantinos, G. (2024). Conflict Management: The Theory, The Practice and Correlation to Crew Matters. https://gr.linkedin.com/in/konstantinos-galanakis-b686623. (Retrieved on 16th June 2026).
20. Mba, C.C. (2026). “Senior Management” and Other Internal Threats to Academic Freedom in Ghana and Nigeria. African Journal of Stability and Development, 18(1): 1-30. https://doi.org/10.53982/ajsd.2026.1801.01-j.
21. Mbipom, G. (2000). Educational administration and planning. Calabar: University of Calabar Press.
22. Mossanen, M., Johnston, S. S., Green, J. & Joyner, B. D. (2014). A Practical Approach to Conflict Management for Program Directors. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 6(2): 345-346. Doi:10.4300/JGME-D-14-00175.1.
23. Nyarks, I. A., John, B. A., & Thomas, N. A. (2025). Work-Life Balance Strategies and Job Satisfaction of Teachers in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District. AKSU International Journal of Research in Education, 1(2): 71-84.
24. Olaleye, F. O. & Arogundade, B. B. (2013). Conflict management strategies of college administrators in South-West Nigeria. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2 (6): 96-104.
25. Owens, R.G. (1987). Organizational behaviour in educations. Englewood cliffs, N. J.-Prentice Hall.
26. Ozurumba, C. N.& Asuquo, T. N. (2014). Refocusing Higher Education Research for Sustainable Development. Developing Country Studies, 4(15): 84-91.
27. Plummer, E. (2021). In A Network, All Concerns Are Your Concerns: Applying The “Dual Concerns” Conflict Management Model to Communication Networks. Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association, 2017 (5).
https://docs.rwu.edu/nyscaproceedings/vol2017/iss1/5. (Retrieved 16th June 2026).
28. Robbins, S. P. (2001). Organizational behaviour. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
29. Rodriguez, J. (2024). Social identity theory. https://www.ebsco.com/. (Retrieved on 16th June 2026).
30. Sunday, S. A. (2025). Conflict Management Strategies in Tertiary Institutions for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. Multi-Disciplinary Research and Development Journals Int’l, 7(4): 147-160. https://mdrdji.org/index.php/mdj/article/view/223. (Retrieved on 17th June 2026).
31. Swinton, L. (2006). Workplace conflict management: Strategy for successful resolution. http://www.mftrou.comiworkplace-conflict-anagement-strategyhtm/. (Retrieved on 13th June 2026).
32. Szilagyi, A. (1981) Management and performance. Califormia: Good Year Pub. Co. Inc.
33. The Center for Leadership Studies (2026). The Damaging Impact of Unresolved Conflict on Teams. https://situational.com. (Retrieved on 23rd June 2026).
34. Thomas. K. (1976). Conflict and conflict management. In M.D. Dunnette (Ed.) Handbookofindustrial and organizational psychology. New York: John Wiley and sons.
35. Thomas, K. W. & Kilmann, R. H. (1974). Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). APA PsycTests Database Record. https://doi.org/10.1037/t02326-000.
36. Thomas, N. A. & Thomas E. A. (2016). Science Educators’ Graduate Unemployment as a Threat to Global Peace and Security. International Journal of Research in Basic and Lifelong Education, 5: 122-129.
37. Thomas N. A. & Inyang, M. I. (2021). Teacher’s Effectiveness Strategies and Students Attitude to Learning in Public Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Progressives and Alternative Education, 7(1): 195-205.
38. Thomas, N. A. & Thomas, E. A. (2025). Administrative Intelligence (AI) And Administrator’s Job Productivity in Public Secondary Schools in North East Education District in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. African Journal of Educational Research and Development, 16(1): 150-168.
39. Thomas, N. A., & Thomas, E. A. (2026). Functional School Environment and Teacher’s Job Performance in Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Development, 6(1).
40. Uboh, D. E., Thomas, N., Sunday, E. S.& Itaketo, B. B. (2026). School Disciplinary Climate and Student’s Academic Engagement as Predictors of Academic Achievement in Public Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Current Research and Studies, 3(3): 107-116.
41. Uboh, D. E., Thomas, N. N., Sunday, E. S., Ekanem, G. A. & Utibe, U. U. (2026). Parental Attitudes and Institutional Disciplinary Authority: Implications for Students’ Behaviour and Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools. World Journal of Arts, Education and Literature, 3(4): 19-24.
42. Ukeje. B.O., Okorie, N. C.&Wagbara U. A (1992). Educational administration: Theoryand practice, Owerri: Totan publishers.
43. Weeks. D. (1992). The eight essential steps to conflict resolution: preserving relationshipat work, at home andin the community. New York, NY: St. Martin's press.
44. Williams-Ilemobola, O. B., Adetayo, A. J., Asiru, M. A. & Ajayi, J. L. (2021). Librarians’ emotional intelligence and conflict management in private university libraries in South- West and South-South, Nigeria. Information impact. Journal of information and knowledge management, 12(1): 33-46. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/iijikm.v12i1.3.
