This study investigated the efficiency of external non-adjudicatory mechanisms (mediation, conciliation and arbitration) setting trade disputes in oil and gas industry in Nigeria from 2005 to 2018. The study was guided by three research objectives. In order to achieve these objectives, the study adopted the survey research design that involved a combination of in-depth interview and interpretation of existing data from the records of The Ministry of Labour and Employment. The population universe were NUPENG and PENGASSAN officials, but the sample was drawn from the officials of five selected oil and gas companies in Nigeria using purposive sampling technique. Fourteen (14) officials were drawn from NUPENG and sixteen (16) officials were drawn from PENGASSAN for the purpose of the interview. Content analysis was adopted in analyzing the responses to the interview questions, while tables, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze data from the records of The Ministry of Labour and Employment. It was found that Mediation was efficient in settling trade dispute in the oil and gas industry but it experienced low usage (10.94%); conciliation enjoyed the highest usage (57.81%), but was not very efficient; and industrial arbitration panel has not been efficient in settling disputes referred to it. Thus, the study concluded that the overall performance of these non-adjudicatory mechanisms in settling trade dispute in the oil and gas industry has not met the expectation of the stake-holders in terms of efficiency. Therefore, it was recommended that mediation should be adopted more frequently in settling trade dispute; the statutory period for conciliation and arbitration should be extended.
Keywords: Arbitration, Mediation, Settlement, Trade Dispute, conciliation, oil and ga industry
