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Conflict Management In Local Government Service
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The term
conflict specifically means breakdown of relationship between parties
and this was corroborated by oxford English dictionary definition in
which conflict was defined as a serious disagreement, on argument, a
struggle, a fight. The history of mankind cannot be devoid of conflict
from the primordial age to the era of communal capitalism, feudalism up
to the present.
A lot of attempts were recorded in capturing various
sources of conflict and how it can be effectively managed. In every
organization where people of different backgrounds and interest have ,
to interact in the collective effort towards achieving a common goal,
conflict is bound to take place. This is because every member of the
organization comes from different places, background and brings to the
workplaces his own personal interest, ambition, which he/she earnestly
desires to achieve along organizational goals. These individual goals
may not necessarily be compatible with that of other members and as a
result of this conflict will definitely come up in the organization:
Conflict
management may be planned and formal or unplanned and verbal or
physical ranging from passive resistance to active aggression.
Conflict
takes place between individuals and between groups, between distinct
organizations or groups within an organization and conflict no doubt is
an important element of social interaction and apart from being a
"negative " factor that "tear apart" conflict may contribute in many way
to the maintenance of groups and collectivities as well as the
cementing of inter personal relations. A conflict is therefore endemic.
It is common knowledge that an organization needs peaceful co-existence
for survival, which may be threatened by conflict.? Conflict management
is very crucial in the achievement of organization goals for proper
understanding of each other actually when there are disagreement between
the employees and employers over some issues like conditions of
employment etc. Karl Marx and some scholars say that industrialization
is a mixed blessing, which has brought prosperity, strike and dispute in
industries. It is unthinkable to find any organization without
conflict.
The local government, which is the third tier of the
Executive arm of government, is established to meet the welfare needs of
the local people. Although the various local councils in the country
were created in the early 50s to perform localized functions and to
bring government closer to the people, the purpose of local government
is essentially to promote democracy at the grassroots level and ensure
service delivery. A local government system may be recognized as either a
single - tier or multi-tier local government. It is single tier if it
performs all the functions assigned to a local government within its
area of jurisdiction and it is multi tier, if two or more local councils
share responsibility for local services within a given local territory.
The management structure of local government takes the form of mayoral
or mayor - council model. The mayor (chairman) is a weak mayor, as he
does not have the power to appoint, remove and supervise the entire
administrative staff. The ubiquitous presence of conflict can hinder the
local government in discharge of its constitutional duties. The
activities of various social groups in the local government if not
effectively controlled or managed can be costly in terms performance and
reputation. In fact any organization without conflict is as good as
dead. Conflict can only be dysfunctional or harmful where there is no
machinery that is put growth of the organization.
Conflict management
expressed in what ever form pose cost to all industrial relations
actors, certain machinery have to put in place for emerged overtime and
new approaches are being worked out to reduce the effect of conflict in
both public and organized private sector in order to prevent the
development of all forms of costly expression of industrial discontents.
1.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF OJO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Ojo
local government was carved out of Badagry local government in May,
1989. Until October I, 1996, when two other local governments namely
Amuwo - Odofin and AjeromiIfelodun local governments were created, it
was the most population of 1.01m by the 1991 national population census
provisional figure.
With the creation of Amuwo-Odofin and
Ajeromi/Ifelodum local governments, there were boundary adjustments. As
at now, the local government shares boundaries with Badagry local
government at Oto with the Ologe lagoon forming a natural boundary on
its southwest flask. It is bounded in the East by Amuwo-Odofin local
government, in the North by Alimosho local government and in the south
by the lagoon.
Ojo houses the Alaba International Market, which is
the largest electronics, electrical parts, and allied material market in
the West Africa Sub-Region.
Currently, Ojo local government Area is
divided into 11 Electoral Wards, which are represented by councilors
under the leadership of Apostle Solomon Ajibola Akin- Aina as Executive
chairman.
Local Government Administration
Local government in the
federation over the year have gone through various reforms, particularly
during the regime of Generals Ibraham Babangida and Sani Abacha when
local governments had their political functionaries either elected or
appointed and enjoyed autonomy.
The present political functionaries
at the local government level were elected on April, 2003 on party
basis. However, the elected functionaries assumed office on June 1, 2003
having been sworn-in by the Executive governor of Lagos state, Senator
Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The 1999 constitution, which is the operational
statue book for the fourth republic, put the control of local government
administration under the state government, this led o he passing of
bill on local government into law on October 4, 1999 in Lagos state. The
law provided for a total separation of the executive and legislative
powers at the local government level. ' Thus empowering the chairmen to
appoint members of their executive committee i.e. the supervisors and
the secretary to the local government, while the elected constitute the
legislative arm.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research study is to investigate the conflict management in local government. Service with particular reference to Ojo local government being the local government use as a case study for this work. Conflict management is very crucial in the achievement of each other actually when there are employer over some issues like condition of work or condition of employment.The local government, which is the third tier of the executive arm of government, is established to meet the welfare the local p ... Continue reading---
