Trade Dispute Adjudication and Trade Unions’ Satisfaction of Justice Served in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

This study examinesthe impact of trade dispute adjudication on the trade unions’ satisfaction of justice served in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. This study employsa survey research design, involvingthe use of in-depth-interview of the officials of the major unions in the oil industry.The population wasNational Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(PENGASSAN)officials.The sample was drawn from the trade union officials of five selected oil and gas companies in Nigeria using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the secretaries of the unions, whereasstratified random sampling technique was used in electing other officials.Fourteen (14) officials were drawn from NUPENG and sixteen (16) officials were drawn from (PENGASSAN)for the purpose ofthe interview. The study found that not less than 74% of the trade unions’ officials are not very satisfied withthejustice served by the National Industrial Court as they reported that the process of adjudicating trade disputes intheoil and gas industry isfrustrating, costly and time-consuming. Based on this finding, it was recommended thattheGovernment should enhance the level of satisfaction of the trade unions with the justice served bytheNational Industrial Court by avoiding unnecessary interference with the processes of adjudication and makingthe process faster and less expensive in delivering judgement.