Board Structure and Accounting Conservatism in Listed Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the impact of board structure on accounting conservatism in listed non-financial firms in Nigeria. The longitudinal research design was adopted and the study covered the period from 2010-2019. study period, there are 75 quoted non-financial firms in the Nigerian Exchange Group classification and these will constitute the sample. In this study, secondary data, by way of annual reports and accounts of the sampled companies in Nigeria and some relevant Nigerian Exchange Group fact books were used to collect data. The effect of corporate governance structure on accounting conservatism was analysed using panel regression. This study employed descriptive statistical methods and includes descriptive techniques such as the mean, standard deviation, range, frequency distribution. More importantly, the random effects (RE) and fixed effects (FE) regression as estimated. The findings of the study reveals that Board size (BDS) has a significant impact on accounting conservatism particularly for Market to book (MTB) and income statement based indicators of accounting conservatism. Also, Board independence (BDIND) has a significant impact on accounting conservatism and this is persistent across all three measures of accounting conservatism used in the study. Board gender diversity (BGD) has a significant impact on accounting conservatism particularly, for accrual based indicators. Hence the study recommends the need for corporate boards to reflect and represent all significant stakeholder interests so that board decisions will not be skewed unhealthily. Therefore, the study recommends for the presence of more independent directors in corporate boards. The study recommends the need for an increase in the level of gender diversity in corporate boards. The study recommends that there is need for shareholders to look closely in order to monitor the practices of management.