Empirical Investigation into Industrial Relations and National Productivity in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated the impact of the poor industrial relations on the National productivity in Nigeria. The paper is a contribution to the often debated issue of privatization of the proliferated public parastatals. In the study, time series data over the period 1970 – 2004 was used and the modified Least Square was employed as analytical tool. The study found that trade disputes and work stoppages negatively affect the growth of national productivity; proxied by per capita income. Evidence also suggests that the shock received by the economy through trade disputes is mostly felt in subsequent year – a phenomenon known as J – Curve. The policy implication of the study was that government should seek possible ways to improve workers productivity especially in those establishments and parastatals which can not be privatized.

Keywords: Industrial Relations, Productivity, Nigerian Economy