Essence of Dispute or Conflict Management and Resolution in any Society

Dispute or conflict we all know is part of healthy living if properly attended to and resolved before it degenerates into violent situation or war. Dispute or conflict resolution has enjoyed global acceptance as a way of achieving better development as there are disputes and conflicts in any areas of human life that require proper attention, management and resolution.

1.     Workplace dispute or conflict.

2.     Employer-employees dispute or conflict such as we have in Nigeria between federal government and academic staff of union universities (ASUU).

3.     Marital dispute or conflict.

4.     Family dispute or conflict.

5.     Community dispute or conflict, especially over land or boundaries etc.

Effective management and resolution of dispute and conflict has become of paramount importance in all societies. The importance of getting unbias professional dispute or conflict resolution experts to handle dispute and conflict management effectively cannot be over emphasized.

The situation were people who sit at negotiating tables and meetings to resolve disputes or conflicts have vested interests in the dispute or conflict with their biases are unacceptable.

No wonder the case of ASUU and federal government of Nigeria has resolved into lingering strike for eight months (Feb. 14^th to Oct. 14^th AD 2022) and litigation and counter litigation. This is not the desired result and so experts in conflict and dispute resolution should be allowed to handle such conflict and dispute.

Flexing of muscles or showing of powers has not been fruitful nor can it productive. The fact that neither the federal government nor ASUU has not to date make use of professional experts in dispute or conflict resolution sends a signal; either these professionals are unknown or unheard of in the society.

This gives me the opportunity to advocate for trained, qualified, ubiased professional chaplains who have been trained in dispute and conflict management and resolution to create the needed space for themselves in the society.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

10^th Oct, AD2022