Page 1 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 63
Influence of Autocratic Leadership Style on the Management of
Industrial Conflict in Oyo State Teaching Service of Nigeria
AJAYI ADEOLA
ajayifunso4christ@gmail.ccom
Abstract
This paper examined the influence of
autocratic leadership style on the
management of industrial conflict in Oyo
State Teaching Service of Nigeria. It
reviewed existing literature on causes of
industrial conflict and the effects on public
secondary schools in the state. It also
assessed the role of leadership styles on the
management of conflict in Oyo State
Teaching Service of Nigeria. This study was
necessitated by the need to ensure improved
leadership on the management of industrial
conflict in Oyo State Teaching Service of
Nigeria.
Both primary and secondary sources of data
were utilized for the study. The primary
sources of data were collected through
personal interview while secondary sources
were from books, journals, newspapers,
internet sources and public lectures on the
field of industrial conflict and leadership.
The study revealed evidences of autocratic
leadership style of the former state governor
which made most industrial conflicts
irreconcilable during his administration.
The empirical findings from personal
interview discovered that major causes of
industrial conflict were breach of agreement
by state government, lack of proper funding,
poor condition of service, unlawful
retirement and illegal retrenchment of
teachers, threat and blackmail of teachers
among others.
It also discovered the major effects of
industrial conflicts in Oyo State public
secondary schools such as disruption of
academic calendar and programmes, low
enrolment in public secondary schools, low
morale of teachers and students, street
hawking, juvenile delinquencies, suspicion
and withdrawal from school activities and
failure of senior secondary school certificate
examinations in 2010 and 2011 by final year
students in public secondary schools of Oyo
State.
The study concluded that autocratic
leadership style on the management of
industrial conflict in Oyo State Teaching
Service should be addressed in order to
restore the past glory of public secondary
schools in Oyo State in particular and the
country in general.
KEYWORDS: Arbitration, Autocratic,
Industrial Conflict, Leadership Styles,
Management
Introduction
Conflict is inherent in all societies
irrespective of location, composition and
mode of organization. Conflict arises when
people congregate, share spaces, facilities
and resources. It is a phenomenon that
cannot be underrated in every human
organization. This is because it can make or
mar the survival growth and progress of an
Page 2 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 64
organization. So influence of autocratic
leadership style on the management of
conflict should be given serious attention, if
the goals and objectives of an organization
must be achieved (Adegoroye, 2004)
Conflict results from human interaction in
the context of incompatible ends and where
one’s ability to satisfy needs or ends
depends on the choices decisions and
behaviour of others. It is therefore possible
to argue that conflict is endemic to human
relationships and societies. It is the result of
interaction among people, an unavoidable
concomitant of choices and decisions and an
expression of the basic fact of human
interdependent (Adejuwon & Okewale,
2009).
Furthermore, functional leadership can be
seen as an aid to incremental improvement
in organizational design and an agent for
evolution functioning in the decision making
process.
It is said to have started as soon as the
employer – employee relationship emerges
in the course of economic development.
This is because the exploitation that is
implicit in the capitalism mode of
production. A reaction against the industrial
system and capitalism in general followed
and led to the development of modern
industrial relation and labour movement in
Nigeria (Adegoroye, ibid).
As early as 1896 attempt were made to form
a trade union in Lagos. By 1912, the Nigeria
Civil Service Union in (NCSW) was
formed. By 1931 trade union were in
existence, among them are: the always
Workers Association and the Nigerian
Union Teachers (NUT). The poor condition
of service led to the first general strike in
Nigeria on July 22 1945. Between 1955 to
1983, a total of one thousand three hundred
and eighteen (1318) trade disputes were
hundred and eighteen (1318) trade service
while between 1990 and 1998 a total of one
thousand four hundred and fifty (1450) trade
disputes were recorded and nine hundred
and fifty eight (958) work stoppages were
recorded (Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity, 2003) .
The colonial government set up Trade Union
Ordinance of 1938 to regulate work
activities in the country and workmen’s
compensation ordinance was passed in 1941
(Adegoroye, ibid).
He further stated Trade Dispute Act of 1976,
among others made an elaborate provision
for the management of trade disputes. For
instance, the act created legal institution like
the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and
the National Industrial Court (NIC) to
manage trade dispute. It also vested the
responsibilities of managing industrial
relations on the Ministry of Labour,
Employment and Productivity.
However, the true leadership has eluded
Oyo State due to the use of autocratic style
on the management of industrial conflict by
former governor of the state. This has
resulted in disruption of academic calendar
and programmes, low enrolment in public
secondary schools, low morale of teachers
and students, street hawking, juvenile
delinquencies, suspicion and withdrawal
from school activities and failure of senior
secondary school certificate examinations in
2010 and 2011 by final year students in
Page 3 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 01 Issue 06
July 2015
Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 65
public secondary schools of Oyo State
among others.
This paper is thus a timely one as it is poised
to examine the influence of autocratic
leadership on the management of Industrial
Conflict in Oyo State Teaching Service of
Nigeria.
Statement of the Problem
Industrial Conflicts which generate into
violence in most cases have become regular
features between teachers and state
government. From 1990 to date the
education sector has witnessed industrial
conflict more than any other sectors of
Nigeria economy. This situation in Oyo
State was particularly bad until recent times
when some palliative measures were taken
by the new administration. From December
2009 to May 2010 teachers in the state
embarked on strike to press-their demand for
payment eighteen thousand naira minimum
wage in salary approved for workers by the
federal government.
In 2010, public schools were closed up to
five months while 2011; the number of days
that school were opened for work was less
that the number of days that they were
closed.
There is no doubt that these series of strike
actions have had adverse effects on the
educational sector in the state and colossal
economic losses, in term of man – day
losses.
It is against these background problems that
this study set out to examine the influence of
autocratic leadership style on the
management of industrial conflict in Oyo
State Teaching Service of Nigeria.
Objective of the study
The objectives of this study are to
i. identify the causes of industrial conflict
between public secondary school teachers
and State
government.
ii. examine the effects of industrial conflict
on the educational sector of the state.
iii. assess the role of leadership styles on the
management of conflict in state
teaching service ; and
iv. proffer solutions to ameliorate incidence
of autocratic leadership on the management
of industrial conflicts in Oyo State
Teaching Service of Nigeria.
Significance of the study
This study is expected to broaden our
knowledge on the importance of harmonious
industrial relation in the teaching service
with particular reference to the public
secondary schools in the state. This is
because the secondary school is the
foundation that other forms of higher
education are built on.
Therefore a healthy relationship is very
crucial between the state government and
her teachers so that government educational
programmes will be well implemented.
The study is also expected to assist
politicians and career officers in formulating
solutions to the problem of autocratic
leadership style on the management of
industrial conflict in Oyo State and stimulate
further research in the field of industrial
conflicts management and leadership in
Nigeria with particular reference to the
teaching profession and the public service in
general.
Literature Review
