LABOUR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN POST-CONFLICT SOCIETY: IMPLICATIONS TO ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Labour and Industrial relations has its roots in the industrial revolution which created the modern labour relationship by spawning large-scale industrial organizations. As society wrestled with these massive economic and social changes, labour problems arose coupled with societal conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction challenges. Premised on this background, this paper is set to discuss the conceptual meaning of labour and industrial relations, examine the impact of conflict on labour-management relations, assess the roles and prospects of labour in post-conflict society, examine the consequential effects of labour-industrial relations in post-conflict society and investigate challenges in labour productivity in post-conflict society. The paper also discusses some framework for labour-industrial relations in post-conflict society. This paper focuses attention on the changing structure of labour environment and the rise of precarious working conditions orchestrated by various unrests and acrimonies from youth bodies, groups and organizations which has led to the degradation of governments institutions and activities of individuals/groups, where members of the radical liberation groups and movement torments the peace, security and government institutions (especially security agencies) and their personnel. The data for this study were collected through secondary sources. The secondary data were retrieved from textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet materials and literatures from academic journals in relation to the subject studied. The study adopted Industrial Relations Theory as a theoretical framework. The paper concludes that Labour and Industrial relations is one of the critical factors and tools in advancing industrial productivity and attaining sustainable development in modern society.