Economic Analysis of the Impact of Labour Unionist Activities on Educational Stability in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

This paper analyzes the Labour Unionist activities of Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Nigerian Universities pre and post year 2000. It presents total number and duration of strike activities and their impact on worker productivity and educational stability in Nigerian Universities. Four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Time series data are collected through archival sources. These were presented in tables and analyzed using t test statistics and regression analysis.. Results revealed that strike activities have been a frequent occurrence in the Nigerian educational milieu. Significant differences were discovered to exist in the duration and impact of strike activities by SSANU and ASUU pre and post year 2000. Principal component analysis was also done to find out which of the causative strike factors were most pressing. It was discovered that the most pressing ones were conflict between labour unions in Universities, poor implementation of agreements by governments, patronage of university consultancy services by governments and reduction of the role of JAMB in undergraduate admission. Some of the recommendations include frequent dialogue between government, University administration and employers and worker conditions of service be reviewed to match inflationary tendencies.

Keywords: Labour unionism, Strikes, Educational stability, Man hour loss