Government Agencies and Traditional Institutions in the Management of Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria

Anacletus, I. Ogbunkwu (2024) Government Agencies and Traditional Institutions in the Management of Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria. African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies (AJPAS), 17 (2). pp. 421-434. ISSN 2787-0367

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Abstract

Conflict is inevitable in human society and the government agencies charged with the responsibility of restoring peace and conflict resolution have not really given the desired result. Thus this paper argues why government agencies’ partnership with the traditional institutions is a desideratum for peace and conflict resolution in Nigeria. This study adopts the Balance of Power Theory as popularized by the American realist, Kenneth Neal Waltz in 1979 which prefers mutual collaboration and co-operating states for efficiency in the course of peace and conflict resolution. Also, this research adopts APA manual of style in research documentation and combines both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Using the analytic method of research, the paper critically examines and compares the government agencies and traditional institutions in matters of peace and conflict resolution to discover that there is urgent need for partnership to achieve the desired goal. Towards addressing the stated aim, the paper studies the meaning of conflict as a social situation in which a minimum of two actors or parties strive to acquire at the same time an available set of scarce resources. Also, the paper studies the role of the government and her agencies in matters of conflict management side by side with the traditional institutions. The findings of the study show that government officials/stakeholders take advantage of crisis situations to promote their political interest either by instigating or fueling already existing crisis. Also, that the government agencies such as the police and army end up with abuse of fundamental human rights, brutality, arbitrary killings, sexual violence, while the judiciary hang up matters for years without judgment. On the other hand, the traditional institutions are made up of elders, chiefs, priests, priestesses, secret cult etc in whom the local communities repose great trust and confidence for peace and conflict resolution. This paper concludes that minding the deplorable compromise of most government institutions in matters of peace and conflict resolution, there is urgent need for partnership with traditional institutions as a desideratum towards achieving the desired peace and co-existence in Nigeria.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education
Depositing User:	mrs chioma hannah
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2025 16:40
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2025 16:40
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5514

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