CORPORATE

The study investigated the influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale in private universities in South-South, Nigeria. Seven research questions were raised to guide the study. Research questions 1 and 2 were answered, while questions 3 to 7 were formulated into hypotheses and tested at a 0.05 alpha level of significance. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 3,245 academic staff in the 26 private universities in South-South Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 356 academic staff from private universities in South-South Nigeria. Two sets of instruments, titled ‘Corporate Governance Practices Questionnaire (CGPQ)’ and ‘Academic Staff Morale Questionnaire (ASMQ)’ were used to collect data. The instruments were validated by the researcher through his supervisors and one other expert in the Department of Measurement and Evaluation, both in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin City. The questionnaires were found to be reliable, with a reliability index of 0.86 for CGPQ and 0.89 for ASMQ. The data collected were analysed using Mean and Standard Deviation for the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested using the Chi-Square statistic. Findings from the study showed that, transparency was the most predominant corporate governance practice in private universities in South-South Nigeria, and the level of academic staff morale was moderate. The study also established that there was a significant influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale. The study further established that there was no significant influence of corporate governance practices on academic staff morale based on age, sex, academic status, and marital status. It was, therefore, recommended, among others, that the corporate governance practice of transparency be strengthened, while ensuring accountability, upholding ethical standards, and demonstrating institutional responsibility.

This study examined total quality management and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the relationship between continuous organizational improvement, consumer focus and quality leadership and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for this research study. The population of the study encompassed a total of 452 employees working in the organisation. A total of 400 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, retrieved and found usable. A convenience sampling procedure was used in administering the copies of the questionnaire to sample respondents who are employees working in the organisation in Benin City, Edo State. The data collected through questionnaire administration was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses and estimate the research model using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. The study found that there is a significant positive relationship continuous organizational improvement, consumer focus and quality leadership and corporate sustainability practices in the organization in Edo State, Nigeria. The study recommends that the organisation needs to consciously integrate sustainability goals within their continuous improvement strategies, place a strong emphasis on sustainability measures that directly xaddress consumer needs and expectations and focus on cultivating and empowering leaders with a strong commitment to sustainability

This study investigated the Sustainability Reporting on Corporate Financial Performance of listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The population of the study was the thirteen DMBs listed on Nigerian Exchange Group of which five (5) were sampled out using purposive sampling technique. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the effect of environmental, economic, social sustainability reporting using return on assets (ROA) as a measure of corporate financial performance. Panel data collected from sampled sourced from their annual report of sampled banks from 2013 to 2022. Using the panel least squares regression technique, the study found that environmental and economic sustainability reporting has a positive and negative insignificant effect on the performance respectively. However, social sustainability reporting was found to be negative and statistically significant. Based on the findings, the study recommends amongst others that enabling legislation should be put in place to mandate enhanced sustainability practices among all deposit money banks in Nigeria as well as facilitate meaningful evaluation and measurement of environmental, economic and social impacts in all areas of bank operations in Nigeria.

This study examines the factors influencing environmental disclosure among oil and gas companies in Nigeria. It adopts an ex-post facto research design with a longitudinal approach, utilizing panel data spanning eleven (11) financial years (2014–2024) from oil companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). The variables investigated include leverage, firm size, profitability, audit firm type, financial constraint, and firm age. The findings reveal that leverage, profitability, firm size, audit firm type, firm age, and financial constraint all have no significant effect on the level of environmental accounting disclosure by oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Based on these results, the study recommends that future research should consider a broader sample of companies and incorporate additional variables beyond those used in the current model, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the determinants of environmental disclosure in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

This study investigates the relationship between capital structure components and corporate financial performance in Nigerian firms, focusing on the consumer goods sector listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). Specifically, it examines the influence of equity capital, short-term debt, long-term debt, and working capital on financial performance, using Return on Assets (ROA) as a key performance indicator. The study adopts a descriptive research design, utilizing secondary data from audited annual reports of 13 consumer goods firms over a five-year period (2019-2023). Findings indicate that equity capital and short-term debt have a significant positive impact on firm profitability, suggesting that a strong equity base and effective short-term debt management are crucial for financial stability and growth. However, long-term debt showed a negative but statistically insignificant relationship with performance, while working capital had a positive but insignificant effect. The study recommends that firms strengthen equity financing, optimize short-term debt, and reduce excessive long-term debt reliance. It also calls for improved working capital management and government policies to reduce borrowing costs for SMEs. The study contributes to capital structure theory in emerging markets, offering insights for financial managers, policymakers, and investors in Nigeria

The study takes a cursory look at the relationship between corporate governance and tax aggressiveness. It specifically examines the relationship between board size, board independence, board size, managerial ownership, institutional ownership, foreign ownership, corporate governance compliance and corporate governance disclosure on tax aggressiveness. The study employed the Ex post facto research design. Data for the study were collected from annual reports of forty-five (45) non- financial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the scope of this study covers a 10year period ranging from 2010 - 2019. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistic, correlation and panel data analyses. Following the results, it is revealed that the relationship between board independence, board size and managerial ownership have insignificant negative relationships with tax aggressiveness, board gender diversity and tax aggressiveness is positive and statistically significant while board foreign ownership and institutional ownership is positive and statistically insignificant with tax aggressiveness, it is also revealed that the moderating effect of agency cost on the relationship between corporate governance compliance and tax aggressiveness is positive and significant, and the moderating effect of agency cost on the relationship between corporate governance disclosure and tax aggressiveness is positive and significant.

The study takes a cursory look at the relationship between corporate governance and tax aggressiveness. It specifically examines the relationship between board size, board independence, board size, managerial ownership, institutional ownership, foreign ownership, corporate governance compliance and corporate governance disclosure on tax aggressiveness. The study employed the Ex post facto research design. Data for the study were collected from annual reports of forty-five (45) non- financial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the scope of this study covers a 10year period ranging from 2010 - 2019. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistic, correlation and panel data analyses. Following the results, it is revealed that the relationship between board independence, board size and managerial ownership have insignificant negative relationships with tax aggressiveness, board gender diversity and tax aggressiveness is positive and statistically significant while board foreign ownership and institutional ownership is positive and statistically insignificant with tax aggressiveness, it is also revealed that the moderating effect of agency cost on the relationship between corporate governance compliance and tax aggressiveness is positive and significant, and the moderating effect of agency cost on the relationship between corporate governance disclosure and tax aggressiveness is positive and significant.

This study examined the relationship between board characteristics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) among selected Nigerian firms. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of board size, board diversity, board independence and board expertise on CSR performance, while firm size and return on assets (ROA) were included as control variables. Secondary data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression. The descriptive results showed moderate CSR engagement among the firms. The correlation analysis revealed that CSR is positively associated with board characteristics, company size, and profitability. Diagnostic tests confirmed that the regression model satisfied major assumptions, including normality, absence of multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity. The regression results further indicated that board size has a positive and statistically significant effect on CSR, suggesting that larger boards facilitate stronger commitment to CSR initiatives. Although board diversity, board independence and board expertise also showed positive relationships with CSR, they were not statistically significant. Additionally, both ROA and company size were significant predictors of CSR, implying that more profitable and larger firms are more socially responsible.