Industrial Action And The Performance Of Academic Staff And Students In Selected Public Tertiary Institutions In Adamawa State, Nigeria 2015-2026

Abstract

The Nigeria tertiary education sector has for long suffered industrial action that has often disrupted academic activities and institutional performance. The study investigated industrial action and its effect on academic staff and students’ performance at some chosen public tertiary institutions in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The topic of the study is the persistent strikes in Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Modibbo Adama University, Yola and College of Agriculture, Ganye. This has resulted to academic instability, drop in productivity and delay in students’ progression. The analysis was based on the Karl Marx Conflict Theory of Industrial Disputes. The theory explains industrial disputes on the basis of uneven power relationship and competing interest between worker and employer. The study adopted a descriptive survey study approach and a structured questionnaire was administered to a sample size of 396 respondents recruited from academic personnel and students. Data were examined with frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings showed that the primary causes of industrial disputes were inadequate wages, limited budget, failure to implement agreements and weak infrastructure. The study further revealed that industrial actions reduce the productivity of academic staff, disrupt teaching and research activities and negatively affect students’ academic performance through delay in graduation, reduction in motivation and disruption of academic calendar. To avert industrial conflicts and to enhance academic stability, the study recommends that the funding of postsecondary institutions be improved, staff entitlements be paid on time, government and union agreements be properly executed and institutional autonomy be expanded.