DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING

This study investigates the tax burden on income earners in Edo State, Nigeria, with a view to understanding its variation across income groups and its implications for tax compliance and revenue generation. The study is driven by concerns that persistent fiscal pressure, low disposable income, and perceived inequities in tax administration undermine voluntary compliance and economic productivity. The specific objectives were to examine variations in tax burden among different income groups, identify the types and rates of taxes imposed on income earners, assess taxpayers’ insights and compliance behaviour, and highlight challenges faced by individuals in fulfilling their tax obligations. A descriptive survey design was adopted, employing both primary and secondary data. Structured questionnaires were administered to 400 respondents drawn from
civil servants, self-employed persons, and private-sector workers across Edo State, selected through stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression techniques. Findings revealed that lower-income earners bear a proportionately higher effective tax burden relative to their income, while inconsistencies in tax administration and inadequate taxpayer education contribute significantly to low compliance levels. The study recommends policy
measures such as tax rate rationalization, improved taxpayer enlightenment, digitalized tax administration, and the enforcement of fairness and transparency principles to enhance compliance and ensure sustainable revenue generation for the state. These findings underscore the need for a more equitable and efficient tax system capable of balancing government fiscal objectives with citizens’ economic welfare.

This study examines the attitudes of accounting students towards ethics in accounting. A survey of 197 accounting students was conducted to gather data, providing insights into their ethical awareness, attitudes and preparedness. This research explores five key areas: The importance of ethics in the accounting profession, the perceived impact of ethical dilemmas on future careers, the implications of accounting students attitudes towards ethics for the future of the accounting profession, the extent to which accounting students feel prepared to handle ethical dilemmas and the common ethical dilemmas faced by accounting students and their resolution strategies. The findings of this study have implications for ethics education in accounting programs, highlighting the need for increased emphasis on ethical awareness and decision-making skills.

The adoption of remote work technologies has transformed business operations across various industries, including accounting. This study examines the impact of remote work technologies on
accounting firms, focusing on their adoption, effectiveness, challenges, and implications for employee productivity. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 150 respondents, with 144 valid responses analyzed. The study explores key variables such as cloud- based accounting software, remote access to financial data, collaboration tools, and their influence on productivity and operational efficiency. Descriptive statistics and reliability tests were conducted to assess the consistency of responses, with Cronbach’s Alpha values ranging from 0.750 to 0.815, indicating acceptable-to-good reliability. Findings reveal that while remote work technologies contribute positively to productivity, their adoption is moderate due to challenges such as security concerns, resistance to change, and infrastructure limitations. The study highlights that private sector firms and accounting professionals increasingly recognize the value of remote work solutions, though some
organizations still struggle with full implementation. Based on the findings, recommendations are made to enhance the adoption and optimization of
remote work technologies in accounting firms. These include investing in secure digital infrastructure, providing employee training on technology use, and developing policies to address cybersecurity risks. The study concludes that while remote work technologies present significant opportunities for efficiency and flexibility, their success depends on strategic implementation and continuous adaptation to technological advancements.

Study investigates the relationship between ethical accounting practices and the productivity of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. In an era where transparency, accountability, and corporate governance are becoming increasingly important, ethical accounting has emerged as a crucial determinant of firm performance. The research explores how adherence to ethical standards in financial reporting, cost management, and
internal control systems affects the operational efficiency and overall productivity of manufacturing firms. The study adupted the use of a structured questionnaires from selected manufacturing companies across Lagos, Ogun, and Edo states, the application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods was applied including regression analysis, to examine the impact of ethical accounting variables on productivity metrics such as
output growth, cost efficiency, and return on assets. The findings revealed that firms that consistently implement ethical accounting practices demonstrate significantly higher
levels of productivity compared to those that do not. The study concludes that ethical accounting is not only vital for regulatory compliance and investor confidence but also
enhances operational performance. It recommends continuous training, enforcement of ethical guidelines by regulatory bodies, and the integration of ethical accounting frameworks into corporate strategy to foster long-term growth in the manufacturing sector.

This research project focuses on the critical role of auditing in ensuring the accuracyoffinancial statements within firms. It delves into the significance of audit practices, emphasizing their role in managing and confirming the correctness of accountingprocedures. Despite this crucial role, conflicts of interest often arise, raising questionsabout the authenticity of audits and auditors' opinions on firms' assertions. These conflictscan stem from various sources, including non-audit services, client pressure, and personal relationships, potentially compromising auditors' independence, objectivity, and integrity. The study specifically investigates the experiences of small audit firms in Nigeria, Nigeria, in managing conflicts of interest in audit practice. It aims to identify the forms, causes, effects, and effective management strategies for conflicts of interest in this context. Through a cross-sectional survey design, data will be collected using questionnaires fromowners, auditors, staff, and stakeholders of these small audit firms. The research seeks to shed light on the challenges faced by these firms and propose viablesolutions. It also aims to contribute to the enhancement of audit quality andthemaintenance of stakeholders' confidence in financial reporting. The findings fromthisstudy could potentially influence regulatory policies and serve as a reference for furtherresearch in this domain.

This study investigated the effect of tax reforms on revenue generation in Nigeria using time series data from 2012 to 2022. In order to determine the effect of tax reforms on revenue performance in Nigeria, tax reforms were measured by reform in Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), reform in Company Income Tax (CIT), reform in Value Added Tax (VAT) and reform in Personal Income Tax (PIT) while revenue performance on the other hand was represented by total federal collection revenue. Four hypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation and the statistical test of parameter estimates was conducted using descriptive statistics and multiple regression model analysis operated with E-view 8. Ex-post facto research design was adopted and data for the study were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical Bulleting and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The regression result showed that the value added tax (VAT) coefficient is found to have a negative relationship with total tax revenue (TTR), the reform customs and excise duties (CED) coefficient is found to be positive with total tax revenue, the reform petroleum profit tax (PPT) coefficient had a positive relationship with total tax revenue in Nigeria, but it is statistically insignificant at 5%, the reform company income tax (CIT) coefficient is found to have a positive relationship with total tax revenue in Nigeria, and it is statistically significant at the 5%.

Strategic decisions are very important decisions which organizations are obliged to make to ensure growth, sustainability, and wealth maximization for shareholders. The study examines the relationship between financial reporting and management accounting and how this relationship aids strategic decision-making. This study seeks to provide evidence on how financial reporting and management accounting influence how strategic decisions are chosen and implemented by organizations. The analysis was carried out on a sample of 10 manufacturing (industrial and consumer goods) companies quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) as of August 6th 2023. It investigates variables of financial reporting and management accounting which are potential determinants that influence strategic decision-making among listed Nigerian Manufacturing firms for a period of ten years 2011-2020. It evaluates the effect of financial performance, market share and competition, industry trends and economic factors, capital expenditure, cost structure, budgeting and forecasting, performance and key performance indicators and capital investment appraisal on the strategic decisions made by listed Nigerian Manufacturing firms. Secondary data from the annual reports of the sampled firms have been analyzed using descriptive and regression models. The results revealed that of financial performance, market share and competition, industry trends and economic factors, capital expenditure, cost structure, budgeting and forecasting, performance and key performance indicators and capital investment appraisal are strong determining factors of strategic decisions in Nigerian Manufacturing firm. Therefore, I strongly recommend that firms harness the relationship between financial reporting and management accounting to enable them to make more informed, data-driven, and strategically sound decisions. This will potentially give them a competitive advantage and eventually lead to improved long-term performance and sustainability

This study focused on unethical accounting practices and it’s effects on financial reporting quality in Nigeria. I specifically examined the roles of institutions, and regulatory bodies in addressing these issues geographically, our sample was drawn from Nigeria. The study employs a quantitative research design. The study particularly used the survey design in collecting data from professional accountants on the effects of unethical accounting practices including Revenue Manipulation, Expense Misclassification, Asset Misstatement, and Earnings Management on financial reporting quality in Nigeria. The type of questionnaire used contains structured questions and a
rating scale of 5-point likert in section B and C denoted as l-Strongly Agree;2-Agree;3-Not sure;4-Disagree;5-Strongly disagree. The data collected were analysed using both
descriptive and inferential statistics. The research hypothesis were tested utilizing regression analysis in order to achieve the current study objectivs. These findings imply that all four unethical accounting practices have a significant negative impact on financial transparency, stakeholder trust, and regulatory compliance. In line with the findings, it is recommended that regulatory bodies should enforce stricter regulations to curb unethical accounting practices, and also companies should establish robust internal mechanisms to detect and prevent fraudulent accounting practices.

Today, audit efficiency is a major concern, especially in Nigeria's fast-changing financial scene. Audit efficiency is all about how well auditors can do their job, making sure financial reports are accurate and finished on time. Some key signs of audit efficiency include how long audits take, time spent on specific tasks, and any drop in overall audit time thanks to tools like ComputerAssisted Audit Techniques (CAATs). Also, looking at how much automated tools are used and how they cut down on process times gives a clearer picture of how audits are improving.

This study explored the impact of board attributes on audit quality among deposit money banks in Nigeria, focusing on the banks listed on the Nigeria Exchange Group over the period 2019 to 2023. The variables analyzed include board meetings, board size, board composition, and audit committee meeting. Various statistical and econometric tool were applied to analyze the data. The results revealed that board size, board composition and audit committee meeting have statistically significant influence on the audit quality of deposit money banks. While board meeting has a statistically insignificant influence on the audit quality of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended that quality of meetings should be prioritize over the quantity of meeting and deposit money banks should maintain an optimal board size that balances diverse expertise with efficiency.