SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: A STUDY OF OIL PRODUCING COMPANIES IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA

This paper was designed to investigate the social challenges of Industrial Relations in the Oil Producing Companies in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria and to examine the various Industrial Relations Systems operations in most organizations in the world. It adopted a descriptive method of investigation and found that if proper Industrial Relations Practices are being applied by the Oil Producing companies operating in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria they would benefit immensely by avoiding industrial and societal conflicts and discontents, ensure industrial peace and harmony, equity and fairness, achieve performance efficiency and effectiveness, encourage productivity and growth and eliminate all forms of social, economic, political and technological challenges arising from adoption of inappropriate industrial relations practices and strategies. Key words: Industrial Relations practices and strategies, social challenges and conflicts, industrial peace and harmony, corporate equity, performance effectiveness and efficiency, growth and productivity