DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING

This study examines the determinants of tax compliance among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The research investigated the influence of six key factors—tax knowledge and awareness, taxpayer attitude and perception, multiple tax
rates, government transparency and accountability, enforcement and penalties, and complexity of the tax accounting system—on tax compliance behavior. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data collected from 142 SMEs were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression techniques through E-Views 14.0.
The regression results revealed that taxpayer attitude and perception had a negative and significant effect on compliance, implying that negative perceptions about the tax system reduce taxpayers’ willingness to comply. Conversely, multiple tax rates and government transparency showed positive and significant effects, indicating that simplified rate structures and transparent governance enhance compliance. Tax knowledge, enforcement, and system complexity were not statistically significant, suggesting that knowledge and penalties alone may not guarantee compliance without trust and institutional integrity. The model was statistically significant (F-statistic = 5.45, p < 0.01) with an adjusted R² of 0.16, confirming a moderate explanatory power. Diagnostic tests showed no autocorrelation or heteroskedasticity, ensuring model reliability.
The study concludes that tax compliance among SMEs in Nigeria is primarily driven by institutional and perceptual factors rather than enforcement. It recommends improving government transparency, simplifying tax structures, and promoting positive taxpayer attitudes to enhance voluntary compliance

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

This study examined the impact of forensic audit on the integrity of financial statement in Nigeria. The objective of the study is to determine the relationship between forensic audit and 11the integrity of financial statement. In order to collect efficient primary data, the purposive survey method was employed and questionnaires designed and distributed to collect the needed data, while the data were analyzed using ordinary least square (OLS) regression technique.The study concluded based on the statistical analysis,as with Becca and Jay(2004),Enofe,Omagbon and Ehigiator(2015),and Oyedokun(2015),that fraud detection, investigation and litigation (using forensic evidence to establish fraud cases), will significantly enhance the integrity of financial statement in Nigeria. However, our fourth variable, periodic/mandatory forensic audit was rejected. In conclusion, forensic audit was adjudged to be an efficient and effective toolagainst fraudulent financial statement but should not be periodic and/or mandatory. It is therefore recommended that further empirical research be conducted with higher numbers ofsampling to establish or otherwise the conclusion arrived at with respect to periodic forensic audit

The study examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on accounting fraud prevention in private firms. The research investigates the use of various ICT tools, including accounting software, cybersecurity measures, automated internal controls, and employee ICT training, and their roles in detecting and preventing fraudulent activities. The research instrument used in this study includes surveys and questionnaires administered to accounting professionals across selected private firms in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The findings indicate that accounting software, when effectively implemented, enhances data accuracy and reduces fraud. Cybersecurity measures, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, also play a critical role in protecting financial data. Additionally, automated internal controls significantly limit opportunities for fraud, while employee ICT training helps in recognizing fraud risks and adhering to ethical standards. Based on these findings, the study recommends that private firms invest in comprehensive ICT systems, continuous employee training, and strong cybersecurity
measures to strengthen their fraud prevention frameworks and enhance organizational integrity.

This study examined the relationship between tax evasion, government revenue generation, and public service delivery in Nigeria, with a particular focus on identifying the underlying causes of tax evasion and its implications for fiscal sustainability. The research employed a quantitative survey design, and data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to individuals, business owners, and government officials in Benin City, Edo State. A total of 360 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that tax evasion in Nigeria is significantly influenced by corruption among tax officials, weak enforcement mechanisms, multiple taxation, and lack of public trust in government. The results further showed that tax evasion has a statistically significant negative effect on government revenue generation and public service delivery. Specifically, the study established that reduced tax compliance limits the government’s ability to finance critical infrastructure, social programs, and public welfare initiatives, thereby perpetuating economic underdevelopment and fiscal instability. The study concluded that addressing tax evasion requires strengthening tax administration systems, ensuring transparency and accountability in public finance management, simplifying tax procedures, and enhancing taxpayer education. It also recommended that government agencies adopt modern technological innovations such as digital tax filing and electronic monitoring systems to minimize leakages and promote voluntary compliance

Technology has advanced recently, and innovations such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics are predicted to have an impact on the auditing and accounting profession. The term "auditing" usually refers to the impartial review and assessment of a business's financial statements, which is often carried out by a third party called an auditor. According to auditor regulations, the auditor's duties include verifying that the financial statements submitted present a true and fair view and offering their opinions on the financial report. They must also provide their assessment of the firm's sustainability within a year of the audited report's date (Jeong, & Rho, 2004). Although the audit process has evolved since its inception, auditors still have to manually take samples of data and use that data to test the validity of the company’s financial statement which can be costly, draining and time-consuming. This method has also proved to be inefficient in this modern age of technology, giving room for manipulation of figures or a misleading audit report. In the past there have been cases of financial crises involving some large organizations such as Enron, WorldCom, and other elite businesses which have brought about some concerns regarding the quality of audit. Since many users of audited financial statements have different expectations of the audit function, the aftermath of these scandals has led to the identification of a perceived expectation gap in audit quality. This has resulted in a call for changes to the auditing profession in order to ensure improved audit quality (Kida, 1980). The world is 11 changing rapidly due to the presence of artificial intelligence (AI), and the field of auditing is no exception. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is defined as “the ability of a computer or machine to mimic intelligent human behaviour” and includes a broad range of methods such as robotics, computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing (Russell & Norvig, 2016). Research is required to fully understand the promises and challenges of this revolutionary technology, which is upending established auditing processes. Artificial Intelligence has a wide-ranging and continuously growing impact on auditing. Some of the tasks for which AI-powered tools are being used for include; Data analysis, fraud detection, continuous auditing, and audit planning and reporting

This study investigates the determinants of tax compliance among taxpayers, focusing on the roles of public trust, perceived fairness, and education. The main objectives were to ascertain the relationship between public trust and tax compliance, examine the influence of perceived fairness on compliance, and determine the effect of education on tax compliance behavior. Data were obtained from 295 observations and analyzed using both descriptive and regression statistical techniques.
The descriptive analysis revealed that tax compliance levels were relatively high among respondents, while perceptions of public trust and fairness varied widely. Regression results showed that public trust and perceived fairness had positive and statistically significant effects on tax compliance, indicating that greater confidence in government and a sense of fairness in the tax system enhance voluntary compliance. However, education exhibited a negative and significant relationship, suggesting that higher educational attainment does not necessarily translate into higher compliance, possibly due to increased awareness of tax loopholes or weak ethical tax orientation.The study concludes that improving public trust, ensuring fairness in tax administration, and strengthening tax education are crucial for promoting voluntary compliance. It recommends increased transparency, equitable tax policies, and the integration of civic tax education into learning programs. The findings contribute to existing literature by emphasizing the behavioral and institutional dimensions of tax compliance, highlighting that trust and fairness play more substantial roles than coercion in shaping taxpayer behavior.

This study examined the effect of audit quality determinants on financial statement accuracy of listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria. The study focused on audit tenure, audit committee size, audit committee meeting frequency, and audit firm size, while financial statement accuracy was proxied by return on assets (ROA). The research adopted an ex- post facto design using secondary data extracted from the annual reports of eleven listed oil and gas firms on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) covering a ten-year period from 2015 to 2024. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel regression techniques conducted in SPSS and EViews 13. The diagnostic tests, including the Jarque-Bera normality test, Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), Breusch-Pagan test, and Durbin-Watson statistic, confirmed the absence of multicollinearity, eroskedasticity, and autocorrelation, indicating the reliability of the regression output. The findings revealed that audit tenure has a negative but insignificant efect on financial statement accuracy, while audit committee size, committee meeting frequency, and audit firm size exhibited positive but insignificant effects on financial statement accuracy. The overall regression model was not statistically significant, suggesting that the selected audit quality attributes do not meaningfully explain variations in the financial accuracy of the sampled firms. It recommends that firms and regulators shift focus from structural audit attributes toward strengthening auditor independence, audit committee expertise, and enforcement of corporate governance practices.

The paper examined economy growth and indirect tax. The objectives of the study were to examine the impact of direct tax on economic growth in Nigeria. To achieve these objectives, secondary data was sourced. Based on these findings, the paper recommended amongst others that Nigeria government should coordinate their industries so that more revenue be generated and should be well managed by channeling it to the critical sectors in the absence of systemic corruption in order to enhance economic growth.

The study examined electronic fraud during the era of cashless policy in Nigeria: a case of bank customers in Benin-city. It investigated the causes of electronic fraud, the response to electronic fraud and the effects of electronic fraud. A questionnaire was used in the study and a total of one hundred and fifty nine (159) responses were gotten. The study utilized descriptive statistics and Chi-square test regression methodology to analyses the relationship between electronic fraud and cashless policy. Findings revealed revealed that fraud and value of ATM transactions in Nigeria are positively and significantly related. This finding corroborates Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Scheme NIBSS (2014) which argued that the ATM was the major transactions for fraudulent activities in terms of volume due to the fact that it experienced the highest number of fraudulent transactions in 2014. This is in accordance with fraud triangle theory and diamond theory that explained the four factors that are common in incidences of fraud which one of them is perceived opportunity