NJOMACS

The continued conflict between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) requires the need for the Federal Government to employ effective public relations (PR) strategie to facilitate conflict resolution. Using an integrative literature review the study explores existing research on PR strategies, stakeholder engagement, crisis communication, and government media relations in labour disputes. This study examines the PR approaches used by the government during the 2020 nine-month ASUU strike it assesses effectiveness of these PR strategies in managing stakeholder relations, communication transparency, and crisis response. The Findings reveal that government PR strategies are often inconsistent reactive and lacks transparency, that lead to trust deficit and prolonged conflicts. Also, weak stakeholder engagements, ineffective media management, and the absence of a structured crisis communication framework further exacerbate the problem. Applying Conflict Management Theory and Stakeholder Theory the study argues for transparent, proactive, and strategic PR approaches to foster trust and mitigate conflicts. Recommendations include improved government media relations, structured stakeholder engagement, enhanced crisis management planning, and capacity building in PR for government officials. Implementing these strategies can improve FG-ASUU relations, reduce industrial disputes, and contribute to a more stable higher education system in Nigeria.