It is common knowledge that industrial relations cannot exist in isolation as it takes place within a system comprising of factors, each of which affects all the other factors. A change in one factor will bring about a change in each of the other factors. It goes without saying therefore that certain external forces influence the industrial relations system and in turn, it also impacts on the outside environment. When faced with such changes, it becomes important for the parties involved in the industrial relations system to reposition themselves to meet the challenges that come with the change.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY
In Nigeria for instance under the military rule, they operate a totalitarian regime characterized by suppression, repression, and suspension of constitutional rule, arbitrariness and unilateralism. Over the years, the first casualty of military coup is the trade union. As part of the pressure groups in the society the trade union has always been at the receiving end of harsh military policies. As the largest employer of labour, government involvement in industrial relations in Nigeria is pervasive. Under the military such involvement was manifested in the following ways: -
i. Restrictions and outright ban of Trade Union activities: More than any other time, trade unions suffer from harsh and repressive government policies during military rule. Along with other pressure groups in the society, trade unions are prevented from holding rallies, embarking on strike, picketing members during strike and other legitimate activities of trade unionism. For instance, in the recent experience during the military regimes of General Ibrahim Babangida and Late General Sani Abacha , the government clamped down heavily on prominent trade unions in the country especially those who embarked on strike to press for the actualization of