1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Conflict is as old as the family institution and it exists in many spheres of life. It is a process that begins when one party or group perceives that another party or group has negatively affected, or is about to negatively affects something that the first party cares about (Robbins & Judge, 2010). Conflict can arise in virtually any social setting, be it between or within individuals, groups, communities, tribes, states or nations. Conflict brings about change and change also brings conflict and both are inevitable part of life (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2010).

Conflict can be a serious problem if it is allowed to escalate as it could create chaotic conditions that make it nearly impossible for people to relate or live together peacefully. Thus, one school of management thought views it as a dysfunctional outcome that threatens social harmony, peaceful co-existence, and economic growth and development and as such it is harmful and should be avoided as it has a negative connotation synonymous with such terms as violence, destruction and irrationality. Authors with this perception treat conflict as a negative pathological condition characterized by hostility, struggle, breakdown of law, order, rules and regulations, lack of cooperation etc. Another school of management thought posits that it is a functional outcome and argues that it is natural and inevitable in all social settings, endeavours and organizations, and has the potential to be a positive force in determining and fostering community harmony, peaceful co-existence, and national development (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2010). This perception sees conflict as not only inevitable but necessary in our social life and treats it as a means that addresses issues like marginalization, exploitation, injustice, abuse of power and resources, etc. The belief is that it strengthens equity and fairness, social interaction, economic growth and national development. Conflict management therefore connotes actions taken to keep a conflict from escalating beyond control. It implies the ability to control the intensity of a conflict and its negative effects, through negotiation, intervention, and other institutional mechanisms including traditional diplomatic methods (Ajala, 2005; Search for Common Ground, 2014).

On the other hand national development, according to Longman dictionary of contemporary English, refers to a phenomenon that embraces a whole nation. National development therefore can be described as the overall development or a collective socio-economic, political as well as religious advancement of a country or nation. This is best achieved through development planning, which can be described as the country’s collection of strategies mapped out by the government. But the fabrics of national development in Nigeria are under the stress from conflict and thus have significant effect socio-economic and well being in Nigeria. We have had series of development plans in Nigeria. Nigeria is permanently hunted by the spectre of development. Its forty-nine years of independence actually are rolling by daily in search of development. The myth of growth and development is so entrenched that the country’s history passes for the history of development strategies and growth models from colonial times up to date. No term has been in constant flux as development. This seems the only country where virtually all notions and models of development have been experimented (Aremu, 2003).

1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

There is no universally accepted definition of conflict (Rahim, 2011). Conflict connotes a wide range of understanding of a situation or a behaviour in which the interests, needs, goals or values of involved parties interfere with one another or is perceived to interfere with one another. It is serious disagreement, an escalation of disagreement between parties that triggers strong emotions. Rahim (2011) postulated five elements which cuts across definitions of conflict: it includes opposing interests between individuals or groups in a zero sum situation; such opposed interest must be recognised for conflict to exit; it involves beliefs, by each side that the other will thwart (or has already thwarted) its interests; it is a process that develops out of existing relationships between individual or groups and reflects their past interactions and the context in which this took place; an implied action by one or both sides that do, in fact, produce thwarting of other’s goals. Conflict often results because of miscommunication between people with regard to their needs, ideas, beliefs, goals, or values. An understanding of what conflict is and why it occurs is central to being able to manage it (Ellis & Abbott, 2011). Conflict if properly managed is a potentially positive and productive force for change that brings growth and development (Olufemi & Adawale, 2012). Conflict management is the process of limiting the negative aspects of conflict while increasing its positive aspects (Rahim, 2011). It is the principle that all conflicts cannot necessarily be resolved, but learning how to manage conflicts can decrease the odds of nonproductive escalation. Dalung (2013) asserts that conflict management entails the long term management of intractable conflicts. He further explained that conflict has been the clog on the wheels of national development in Nigeria this is because of the way the issues of conflicts are being handled in Nigeria. The variety of ways by which people handle grievances standing up for what they consider to be right and against what they consider to be wrong is usually not rational. Conflict management therefore involves acquiring skills related to conflict resolution, self-awareness about conflict modes, conflict communication skills, and establishing a structure for resolving conflict in the environment to achieve national development in Nigeria. It is to this regard that the researcher desired to examine conflict management and natonal development using Agutu local government area of Benue State as the case study.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

The research questions for the study are:

1. What is the effect of conflict management on socio-economic development in Nigeria?
2. What are the root causes of conflict in Agutu local government area of Benue State?
3. What are the factors affecting the resolution of conflict in Agutu local government of Benue state?

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to examine conflict management and national development. Other specific objectives of the study are:

1. to determine the effect of conflict management on socio-economic development in Nigeria
2. to determine the root causes of conflict in Agutu local government area of Benue State
3. to investigate on the factors affecting the resolution of conflict in Agutu local government of Benue state
4. to proffer solution to the issues of conflicts in Agutu local government area of Benue state

1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis 1

H0: there is no mean difference in gender responses of the respondents that illiteracy and poverty rate are the major causes of conflict in Agugu local government area of Benue State

H1: there is mean difference in gender responses of the respondents that illiteracy and poverty rate are the major causes of conflict in Agugu local government area of Benue State

Hypothesis 2

H0: conflict management does not influence national development in Nigeria

H1: conflict management influences national development in Nigeria

1.6SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study on conflict management and national development will be of immense benefit to the entire population of Agutu local government area of Benue State, the state government and other researchers that desire to carry out similar research on the above topic as the findings of the study will identify the causes of conflict and the best ways to manage conflict in Agutu local government area of Benue State. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge in this field of study and provide a basis for further research

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study on conflict management and national development will cover on the causes of conflict and the best ways to manage conflict in Agutu local government area of Benue State from 2000 to 2017

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Time constraint

 The major limitation of the study is the time constraint; the researcher was inhibited by time as there was no enough time to cover all the areas of Agutu local government, Benue State.

Financial constraint

Another constraint of this study is financial constraints, lack of adequate finances in printing enough questionnaires for the patients and to equally interview the inhabitants of Agutu local government area, Benue State.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Conflict: Conflict refers to a competition and fighting for control, predominantly when resources are scarce. Traditionally, conflicts mean disagreements, contradictions or incompatibility between groups and individuals.
• Management: This is the art of getting things done through people. The Management process includes planning, organizing, staffing, control and directing activities that takes place in an organisation to achieve goal.
• Negotiation: This is communication of information sharing process in which parties try to work out their real, perceived or potential difference through agreement that defines future behaviour.