LEGAL ANALYSIS OF MAJOR CAUSATION OF LABOUR DISPUTES IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This paper discussed the major causation of labour disputes in Nigerian public universities.
Labour disputes arise out of employers’ inability to meet employee demands and entitlements which are
tangential to their work and status on the job. Many disputes have arisen between the Federal Government
of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities largely in the form of strikes some extending to
nearly 2 years as experienced between 2022 and 2024. This work analyses various forms of industrial
actions some of which include strike, lock out, go slow and a number of other forms of industrial actions.
Primary sources of data were consulted such as the Labour Act 1974, Trade Dispute Act 2004, Trade Union
Act 1966, amongst others were analysed as it affects trade disputes. Secondary sources like scholarly
writings of experts in labour disputes were also discussed. Amongst the findings of this paper is that where
there are humans disputes abound, however it was recommended amongst others that strike should be the
last resort in trade disputes and rather other options like working to rule, working to contract and go slow
options should rather be explored giving the nature of services the university renders and the adaptation of
learners being away from the rigours of academics