Evaluation of Critical Corporate Governance Issues within Nigeria's Top State-Owned Enterprises

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article was to examine and analyze significant corporate governance issues prevalent in Nigeria's leading state-owned enterprises by identifying the key corporate governance issues that exist within State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), importance of addressing these critical corporate governance issues in relation to SOEs in Nigeria, explore the various factors that hinder the evaluation of these critical corporate governance issues in Nigerian SOEs and put forth recommendations and strategies for effectively managing these critical corporate governance issues within SOEs in Nigeria. Theoretical Framework: Agency Model Principals (Shareholders) Agents (Management) Performs Hires and Delegates Self Interest Self Interest 257 Talat Afza and Mian Sajid Nazir On the whole, agency theory laid emphasis on the opportunistic behavior of managers; managers try to put their interest first by forgoing shareholders’ interests. Method: The study employed a descriptive survey design, wherein 300 employees were selected through a random sampling process from a pool of over 100,000 employees belonging to various organizations such as Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Nigeria Postal Services, Nigerian Railway Cooperation, Nigeria Water Board Cooperation, and Nigeria Television Authority. The selected employees were representative of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. A questionnaire consisting of 20 items was utilized as the primary instrument for data collection. To ensure the reliability and validity of the instrument, the validation process involved the application of Lawshe's content validity template, resulting in a content validity ratio (CVR) of 1. The psychometric properties of the instrument were assessed using Cronbach's alpha. A coefficient alpha of .85 was obtained, surpassing the threshold of .70. This indicates that the instrument demonstrates satisfactory reliability. The data was collected in real-time and subsequently analyzed utilizing frequency count and percentage calculations. Findings: The results indicate that employees possess a comprehensive understanding of crucial corporate governance matters within their respective state-owned enterprises in Nigeria. Assessing these critical corporate governance issues has the potential to yield outstanding returns on investment (ROI) and enhance stakeholder satisfaction. Hence, it is of utmost importance to conduct a comprehensive assessment of critical issues pertaining to corporate governance. Conclusion: This evaluation is essential in order to protect the interests of stakeholders, attain anticipated levels of performance, promote fairness and transparency, optimize return on investment, and ultimately enhance the provision of services to citizens.