COMMUNITY CONFERENCE AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION APPROACH IN THE COMMUNITY BANKING SYSTEM IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL FINANCE INSTITUTIONS MANAGEMENT

摘要

The study examines the use of community conference as a conflict resolution approach in the erstwhile community banks in Nigeria, now transformed to microfinance banks. Information was obtained from 39 staff of the National Board for community Banks (NBCB), the then regulatory agency overseeing the banks operations. The staff were drawn from the eight zonal offices structured to administer the regulation of community banks in Nigeria. Data collected focused on the description of what constitutes community conference, as well as its effectiveness in resolving conflict among its stake-holders. Data equally dwelt on the challenges of using community conference as conflict resolution tool, as well as ways it can be strengthened as an approach in resolving conflicts in rural finance institutions. Questionnaire was the main data collection tool used. Statistical techniques used in analyzing data were simple and multiple percentages, as well as chi-square (?2). The result revealed that ‘community-conference’ as a conflict management approach is effective, even though it has challenges in its usage. The approach is unbereaucratic, open and ensures stake-holders participation in conflict resolution. Suggestions for strengthening the approach and also its implications on rural finance institution management were made.