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Abstract
This study investigated the effect of Board Risk Committee (BRC) characteristics on the corporate financial performance of listed firms in Nigeria. Specifically, the work assessed how BRC size, BRC expertise, BRC independence and BRC meeting frequency influenced corporate financial performance proxied by Return on Assets
(ROA). The study also aimed to provide empirical evidence on whether the structure and functioning of the BRC, as a key corporate governance mechanism, contributed meaningfully to improving profitability in the Nigerian corporate environment. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and relied on secondary data extracted from published annual reports and accounts of listed Nigerian firms. A total of 250 firm-year observations were obtained, and corporate financial performance was measured using ROA, while BRC size, expertise, independence and meeting frequency served as the explanatory variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and a series of diagnostic tests (normality, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity and model specification tests) were carried out. In line with the diagnostic results, robust pooled
Ordinary Least Squares estimation using robust regression (rreg) was employed as the main estimation technique with the aid of STATA software. The empirical results showed that Board Risk Committee independence had a positive and statistically significant effect on corporate financial performance, indicating that firms with a higher proportion of independent members on the risk committee recorded better profitability. By contrast, BRC size, BRC expertise and BRC meeting frequency exhibited statistically insignificant relationships with ROA, suggesting that merely increasing the number of members, their reported expertise or the number of meetings did not automatically translate into improved financial performance. The study recommended that regulators and boards should place stronger emphasis on ensuring genuine independence of BRC members, supported by clear appointment processes and enhanced oversight responsibilities. It also recommended that, beyond compliance with code provisions on committee size and meeting frequency, firms should focus on the quality, objectivity and effectiveness of risk committee deliberations in order to strengthen financial performance and long-term value creation
(ROA). The study also aimed to provide empirical evidence on whether the structure and functioning of the BRC, as a key corporate governance mechanism, contributed meaningfully to improving profitability in the Nigerian corporate environment. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and relied on secondary data extracted from published annual reports and accounts of listed Nigerian firms. A total of 250 firm-year observations were obtained, and corporate financial performance was measured using ROA, while BRC size, expertise, independence and meeting frequency served as the explanatory variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and a series of diagnostic tests (normality, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity and model specification tests) were carried out. In line with the diagnostic results, robust pooled
Ordinary Least Squares estimation using robust regression (rreg) was employed as the main estimation technique with the aid of STATA software. The empirical results showed that Board Risk Committee independence had a positive and statistically significant effect on corporate financial performance, indicating that firms with a higher proportion of independent members on the risk committee recorded better profitability. By contrast, BRC size, BRC expertise and BRC meeting frequency exhibited statistically insignificant relationships with ROA, suggesting that merely increasing the number of members, their reported expertise or the number of meetings did not automatically translate into improved financial performance. The study recommended that regulators and boards should place stronger emphasis on ensuring genuine independence of BRC members, supported by clear appointment processes and enhanced oversight responsibilities. It also recommended that, beyond compliance with code provisions on committee size and meeting frequency, firms should focus on the quality, objectivity and effectiveness of risk committee deliberations in order to strengthen financial performance and long-term value creation
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