Integrating Conflict Management into Corporate Governance Frameworks in Nigerian Banks

This study investigates the extent and quality of conflict management integration within corporate governance frameworks in selected Nigerian banks, drawing evidence from Tier-1 banks headquartered in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. Corporate governance frameworks in the banking sector provide structural guidelines for managing conflicts of interest among board members, management, shareholders, and employees, but the adequacy of conflict management provisions within these frameworks in the Nigerian context requires empirical examination. Using a professional practice research design, data were collected through structured interviews with 30 board secretaries, compliance officers, company secretaries, and internal audit executives from five major Nigerian banks, supplemented by content analysis of publicly available corporate governance codes and annual reports from 2022 to 2024. The theoretical framework draws from agency theory and corporate governance conflict management models. Findings indicate that while Central Bank of Nigeria corporate governance guidelines mandate conflict-of-interest disclosure procedures, the active management of board-level conflicts through structured mediation, independent review, and stakeholder engagement remains underdeveloped relative to international best practice. Intra-board conflicts and management-shareholder disputes are typically handled through legal instruments rather than proactive conflict management interventions. Recommendations include incorporating a structured board conflict management protocol into Nigerian bank corporate governance codes, training corporate secretaries in conflict-sensitive facilitation techniques, and establishing an independent board ombudsman role for managing shareholder conflict escalations. Keywords: conflict management, corporate governance, Nigerian banks, banking sector, professional practice.