Web-Based Corporate Environmental Reporting in Nigeria: A Study of Listed Companies

This paper basically examined the utilization of the Internet for communicating corporate environmental information by listed financial and non-financial companies in Nigeria. The sample for the study consists of 30 firms listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. While the content analysis technique was used as a basis for eliciting data from the corporate websites of the selected firms, the student t-test statistics was used to find out whether there is a significant difference in the level of web-based corporate environmental disclosure between financial and non-financial firms in Nigeria. In addition, the linear regression method of data analysis was employed to investigate whether there is a relationship between the financial performance of firms and the level of corporate environmental disclosures of the selected listed firms in Nigeria. The paper as part of its findings observed that there is no significant difference in the level of web-based corporate environmental disclosure between listed financial and non-financial firms in the Nigeria stock exchang

AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL LEVERAGE ON THE DIVIDEND POLICIES OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA

In an attempt to provide a developing economy perspective to the corporate dividend puzzle, this study basically examined the effects of ownership structure and financial leverage on the dividend payouts of firms operating in Nigeria. Using the judgmental sampling technique, a sample of 50 selected listed firms from the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market where analyzed using the annual reports for the period 2006 to 2010. The choice of the selected firms’ arises based on the capital structure and the availability of data for the listed firms. The regression analysis method was employed as a statistical technique for analyzing the data collected from the annual report of the selected firms. Findings from the paper revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between ownership structure and the dividend payout of the sampled firms in Nigeria. In addition, the paper revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between financial leverages and the dividend payout of firms. Thus the paper concludes that while the ownership structure of firms in terms of equity interest appear to have a visible and significant effect on dividend payout of firms, on the other hand, the financial leverage have a very significant negative impact on firms corporate dividend payout policies

Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures by Environmentally Visible Corporations: A Study of Selected Firms in Nigeria

This study basically investigates the association between corporate environmental visibility and the level of corporate social responsibility disclosures among listed firms in Nigeria. The attribute or proxy used as a measure for environmental visibility in this study is size and it is measured by the total asset of the selected firms. To achieve the objective of this study, a total of 30 selected listed firms in the Nigerian stock exchange market were used. Also, the study critically developed and utilized a disclosure index to measure the extent of corporate social responsibility disclosure made by companies in their corporate annual reports for the period 2006-2010. The simple regression analysis was used to test the research propositions in this study. The study observed that there is a significant association between the corporate environmental visibility and the level of corporate social responsibility disclosures among listed firms in Nigeria. This finding further revealed that environmentally visible firms disclose more environmental information in their annual reports in order to legitimate their operations and to avoid political costs derived from public scrutiny

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF FIRMS’ CHARACTERISTICS ON EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA

This study assessed the effects of firms’ characteristics on earnings management of listed companies in Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of this study, a total of 20 listed firms in the Nigerian stock exchange market were selected and analyzed for the study using the judgmental sampling technique. The corporate annual reports for the period 2006-2010 were used for the study. In testing the research hypothesis, the study adopted the use of both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis using the pooled ordinary least square regression for the listed sampled firms. Findings from the study revealed that while firm size and firms’ corporate strategy have a significant positive impact on earnings management (proxied by discretionary accruals); on the other hand, the relationship between firms’ financial leverage and discretionary accruals of the sampled firms in Nigeria was not significant. Thus, the study concludes that large firms tend to have higher motivations and more prospects to engage in the manipulation earnings and exaggerate earnings due to the intricacy of their operations and the complexity for users to identify overstatemen

) Credit Management and Bank Performance of Listed Banks in Nigeria, Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, Vol.6, No.2, 27-32

The study critically assessed the effects of credit management on banks’s performance in Nigeria. In achieving the objectives identified in this study, the audited corporate annual financial statement of listed banks covering the period 2007-2011 were analyzed. More so, a sum total of ten (10) listed banks were selected and analyzed for the study using the purposive sampling method. However, in an assessing the research postulations, the study adopted the use of both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis using the panel linear regression methodology consisting of periodic and cross sectional data in the estimation of the regression equation. Findings from the study revealed that while ratio of non-performing loans and bad debt do have a significant negative effect on the performance of banks in Nigeria, on the other hand, the relationship between secured and unsecured loan ratio and bank’s performance was not significant. Hence, the study recommends that banks management should put in place or institute sound lending framework, adequate credit administration procedure and an effective and efficient machinery to monitor lending function with established rules

IFRS Adoption and Its Integration into Accounting Education Curriculum in Nigerian Universities

This study basically investigates the association between corporate environmental visibility and the level of corporate social responsibility disclosures among listed firms in Nigeria. The attribute or proxy used as a measure for environmental visibility in this study is size and it is measured by the total asset of the selected firms. To achieve the objective of this study, a total of 30 selected listed firms in the Nigerian stock exchange market were used. Also, the study critically developed and utilized a disclosure index to measure the extent of corporate social responsibility disclosure made by companies in their corporate annual reports for the period 2006-2010. The simple regression analysis was used to test the research propositions in this study. The study observed that there is a significant association between the corporate environmental visibility and the level of corporate social responsibility disclosures among listed firms in Nigeria. This finding further revealed that environmentally visible firms disclose more environmental information in their annual reports in order to legitimate their operations and to avoid political costs derived from public scrutiny. Keywords: corporate disclosure, Environmental visibility, corporate social responsibility, Siz

Credit Management and Bank Performance of Listed Banks in Nigeria

The study critically assessed the effects of credit management on banks’s performance in Nigeria. In achievithe objectives identified in this study, the audited corporate annual financial statement of listed banks coverithe period 2007-2011 were analyzed. More so, a sum total of ten (10) listed banks were selected and analyzed fthe study using the purposive sampling method. However, in an assessing the research postulations, the stuadopted the use of both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis using the panel linear regressimethodology consisting of periodic and cross sectional data in the estimation of the regression equatioFindings from the study revealed that while ratio of non-performing loans and bad debt do have a significanegative effect on the performance of banks in Nigeria, on the other hand, the relationship between secured aunsecured loan ratio and bank’s performance was not significant. Hence, the study recommends that banmanagement should put in place or institute sound lending framework, adequate credit administration proceduand an effective and efficient machinery to monitor lending function with established rules. Keywords: Credit Management, Non-performing loans and Bad debt, Bank performanc

Effects of Corporate Governance on Corporate Social and Environmental Disclosure among Listed Firms in Nigeria

This study examined the effects of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms on corporate social and environmental disclosure (CSED) among firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Forty firms were selected for the study using judgmental sampling technique. A content analysis of information in the corporate annual reports and websites of the selected firms for the period 2006-2010 provided data for the study. CSED was measured using 50 items of information and CG mechanisms examined were CEO duality, Board size, proportion of nonexecutive directors and audit size. Data obtained were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. Findings revealed a significant negative relationship between CEO duality and CSED; and significant positive relationships between proportion of non- executive directors, board size, audit size and CSED. The study concluded that an effective board with higher number of non executive directors (independent directors) and larger size and higher quality audits will be more supportive of firms disclosing a wider range of information to stakeholders including social and environmental information