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This paper examined the effect of accounting practices on the growth of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Nigeria. The study specifically examined the influence of book-keeping and accounting knowledge on the growth of micro and small enterprises as well as the effect of financial management practices on the growth of MSEs in Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. Micro and small scale enterprises in South-East and South-South geopolitical zones in Nigeria formed the population of the study. The study made use of primary data. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. A sample size of 384 was adopted using Bill Godden sample size formula. Proportional stratified random sampling technique was employed to distribute this 384 to MSEs. The data were tested using percentages, mean, and standard deviation, while the hypotheses were tested using regression analysis and analysis of variance. Multicollinearity test was conducted to determine the collinearity of the two independent variables. According to the findings, book-keeping and accounting knowledge as well as financial management practices have significant effect on MSE growth in Nigeria. This finding implies that MSEs will experience continuous growth if they acquire accounting knowledge and apply such knowledge in financial management practices in their business operations. This study will be beneficial to researchers, readers of this work, investors, and intending investors in MSEs in Nigeria. The limitations experienced in the course of this research were the reluctant attitude of some respondents who felt that they might be revealing business secrets to free-riders but later showed full cooperation when convinced it was purely for critical examination of problems of accounting practices affecting MSEs growth in Nigeria and the ability to find out solutions. It recommends government and MSE owners/managers to focus greater attention on the acquisition of book-keeping and accounting knowledge and financial management practices that can constantly lead to MSEs' growth.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent and quality of voluntary intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a survey of 271 informants and content analysis of the annual reports of 12 DMBs in Nigeria. The data collected were analysed using factor analysis,t-test, Friedman test for related sample and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.FindingsThe findings of this paper indicate that the extent of ICD is significant and higher than the quality of ICD, which is insignificant, with the extent of disclosure highest in the relational component of intellectual capital. It also shows that a significant difference exists amongst the extent of human capital, structural capital and relational capital disclosures, with the significant difference traced to the difference between the extent of disclosures of relational capital and human capital.Research limitations/implicationsThe results can be interpreted across the target sample where the study covers a five-year period and 12 DMBs in Nigeria. However, the study provides a robust empirical basis for policymakers and regulators to develop future ICD regulatory guidelines for banks and push for improvement in the quality of ICD by DMBs.Originality/valueNo previous studies of voluntary ICD have considered the extent and quality of ICD by DMBs in Nigeria. Further, this study shed the light on a new human capital item related to “employee health and mental state”; therefore, it extends and supports the previous empirical literature on ICD.

Purpose: This study examined the effect of corporate governance leadership models and attributes on firms' earnings quality using evidence from Nigerian quoted firms. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used an ex-post facto design with a twostage multiple random and fixed effect regression analyses. A sample of 37 quoted firms in Nigerian Stock Exchange between 2014 and 2018 was selected for the study. Findings: Relative to unitary corporate leadership, dual board leadership model outperformed and significantly improves earnings persistence and value relevance. Earnings persistence and value relevance increased in boards where CEOs and board chairpersons have equal financial expertise. Also the quality of earnings improved significantly with a good mix of financial expertise and legal skills in the board. Thus, the capital market places a premium on such good leadership attribute mix. Research Limitation: This study concentrated on non-financial firms in Nigeria. Thus, it should not primarily be generalized as it is context-specific and most applicable among the developing economies Policy Implication: The implication is that investors can mitigate adverse portfolio selection if they target firms, where both CEOs and board chairpersons have strong accounting and legal knowledge mix. Investors should consider board leadership structures in assessing the overall firms' earnings quality. Leadership roles separation provides for higher reporting quality. Originality: This study provides the latest evidence of the effect of board leadership models and attributes on firms' earnings quality in Nigeria. It makes original contribution to the effect of corporate governance on earnings persistence and predictability and how the market reacts to certain attribute combinations.

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of corporate board characteristics on the extent of environmental disclosure quantity of listed firms in two leading emerging economies in Africa, South Africa (integrated reporting framework) and Nigeria (traditional reporting framework). Methods: The sample was comprised of 303 firms including environmentally sensitive companies purposively selected for content analysis study in South Africa (213) and Nigeria (90). We used both descriptive, multivariate and regression models to comparatively analyze the differences about corporate board characteristics as determinants of the extent of their environmental disclosure quantity. Results: The results reveal a more significant positive association between board characteristics and environmental disclosure in South Africa and less relevant association in Nigeria. Also, the results support that board independence arrangement may serve as bonding mechanisms in weak reporting environments, suggesting a substitutive relationship between board independence and the regulatory framework. Quiet revealing a board with environmental committee show a higher tendency to be ecologic transparent in both countries. However, in a traditional reporting framework, the environmental committee is not enough; its effect was insignificant and highly significant in the integrated reporting framework. Further revealed is the significant positive effect of industry membership influence on environmental disclosure. In all estimated models of South Africa sample show that 45% of environmentally sensitive industries significantly influence environmental disclosure, while 51% is environmentally polluting industries in Nigeria show less concern on environmental disclosure. Interestingly, Audit firm size (Big4) positively and statistically significantly associated with overall environmental reporting in both countries. The results are consistent with stakeholder theory, agency theory, institutional and legitimacy theory suggesting that a strong board size, independent members of the board with auditing experience, the active environmental committee in conjunction with solid audit reputation may reduce information asymmetry. Our findings will be helpful for policymakers and other regulators who are interested in environmental impact reporting.

This paper reviews the benefits and costs of joint audits (audits in which financial statements are audited by two or more independent auditors), and ascertains the perceptions of stakeholders (Nigerian accountants, auditors, and accounting academics) as an important determining factor as to whether Nigeria's government should make joint audits mandatory. Accountants, auditors, and accounting academics were surveyed in Nigeria using a Likert-type questionnaire. Responses to the questions were analyzed using simple percentages and independent t-test statistics. Clarifications were also sought from partners of accounting firms. The study revealed little agreement among stakeholders on the desirability of mandated joint audits in Nigeria, although there was general agreement that the benefits outweigh the costs involved. The open-ended questions, and the clarifications provided by some accounting practitioners shed further light on the issues surrounding the use of joint audits in Nigeria. This study contributes to the current debate in Nigeria, on whether joint audits should be mandated, by eliciting the opinions of three important stakeholder groups. This study adds to the current literature on joint audits, and highlights avenues for further research, both in Nigeria, and in other developing countries.

The study examined the influence of corporate board characteristics on environmental disclosure quantity of listed firms in two leading emerging economies: South Africa and Nigeria which practice integrated reporting framework and traditional reporting framework, respectively. Two issues motivate the study: First, calls by researchers for integrated reporting regulation in Nigeria. Second, the challenge facing regulatory bodies and companies boards in Nigeria in ensuring commitment to the protection of the environment and the society. Many studies have examined the influence of corporate governance on environmental disclosure at the cross-country level, documenting evidence that corporate governance mechanisms are essential for corporate ecological reporting. However, these studies examined settings based on the legal framework and mostly focused on companies quoted on common and civil law countries. They neglected the weak and robust reporting framework and difference within either common or civil law countries. Our study provides evidence on corporate board characteristics influence on environmental disclosure of quoted firms in South Africa and Nigeria. Data obtained from annual reports of 303 environmentally sensitive companies selected from South Africa (213) and Nigeria (90) was investigated using descriptive, multivariate, and regression model. Major findings indicate a significant positive association between board independence and environmental disclosure in Nigeria. In South Africa, 45% of environmentally sensitive industries significantly influence environmental disclosure, while 51% of environmentally polluting industries in Nigeria show insignificant association with environmental disclosure. Our findings are helpful to policymakers and other regulators for an impactful framework on environmental reporting.