STATE AGENCIES, INDUSTRY REGULATIONS AND THE QUALITY OF ACCOUNTING PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study empirically investigates the impact of state agencies and industry regulations on the quality of accounting practice in Nigeria. A two stage approach in which the first stage was complemented by the second stage was adopted in carrying out the study. First, the study adopted a survey approach in which data were collected from users and compilers of accounting information through questionnaire. Secondly, secondary data were collected and analyzed. The data were analyzed and results estimated using students‘t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Ordinary Least Square Regression as well as Panel Data Estimation technique. For the t-test, the four-year period before and after the enactment of the Nigeria
Accounting Standards Board Act, 2003 (1999-2002) and (2004-2007) were compared. The ANOVA was used for the multiple comparisons of the industrial sectors included in the study. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of stage agencies and industry regulation as well as the influence of industry attributes on the quality of accounting practice.

The panel data estimation was used to enhance the results obtained from the multiple regression analysis. Though results showed that the impact of state agencies and industry regulations was fairly significant and positive for five of the seven agencies and regulations tested, however, significant dysfunctional behaviour was observed in the quality of accounting practice.

The findings also showed that the difference in the quality of accounting practice was significantly higher after the NASB, Act 2003 was enacted.

Similarly, significant differences were observed among the industrial sectors in terms of quality of accounting practice. The findings further revealed that the size of company and the sign of earnings were the major industry attributes that influence the overall quality of accounting practice.

The major implication of the study is that regulations are not enough to ensure that the quality of accounting practice is high in Nigeria. While strengthening existing regulations, it is recommended that  emphasis should be focused more on the qualities possessed by those who prepare financial statements and attest to them. This has the potential of reducing dysfunctional behaviour which is prevalent even in the presence of strict regulations and harsh penalties.

Key words: State Agencies, Industry Regulations, Accounting Practice, Industry Attributes, Relevance, Reliability, Comparability

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page– i
Declaration—-ii
Dedication————  iii
Certification———— iv
Acknowledgement————v
Table of Contents———-  viii
List of Tables————  xii
List of Figures———— xv
Appendices———— xvi
Abstract———— xvii

Chapter One: Introduction
1.1  Background to the Study——–1
1.2  Statement of the Problem——–  6
1.3  Objectives of the Research——–7
1.4  Research Questions——–  7
1.5  Research Hypotheses——–  8
1.6  Significance of the Study——–9
1.7  Scope of the Study——–  10
1.11–Definition of Terms———- 12

Chapter Two: Review of Literature and Theoretical Framework
2.1  Introduction———- 14
2.2  Interest Groups and Accounting Information—-  16
2.3  Deregulation Policy and Accounting policy—-  17
2.4  Link between Accounting and Deregulation Policy—-19
2.5  Accounting Practice and Quality of Financial Reports– 20
2.6  Accounting and Industry Regulation—— 23
2.7  Theories of Regulation——–25
2.7.1  Theorising and Approaches to Regulation—-  27
2.7.2  Public Interest Theories——–27
2.7.3  Interest Group Theories——–28
2.7.4  The Economic Theory of Regulation—— 28
2.7.5  Institutional Theories——–  30
2.7.6  The Political -Economic Theories—— 31
2.7.7–Regulation Strategies——–  32
2.8  Accounting and Regulation——–36
2.9  Theories of Professional Development——39
2.10  Development of Accounting Practice in Nigeria—-41
2.11  Authorities Behind Accounting practice in Nigeria—-43
2.12  Prior Empirical Literature on the Development and Practice of Accounting———-  59
2.13  Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Development of Accounting Profession and/Practice——–64
2.4  Theoretical Framework——–75
2.5 Summary of Literature Review—— 83

Chapter Three: Research Methods
3.1  Introduction———- 89
3.2  Research Design——–  89
3.2.1  Population———- 89
3.2.2 Sampling Procedure——–  90
3.2.3 Sources and Instruments of Data Collection—-  93
3.2.4 The Questionnaire———-93
3.2.5  Preliminary Testing——–  95
3.2.6 Pilot Testing———- 95
3.2.7 Personal Interview——–  95
3.2.8 Validity and Reliability Checks—— 96
3.3 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis—-  96
3.4 Model Formulation and A priori Expectation of Coff. Estimates  98
3.5 Model Specification–  105
3.5.1  Model Specification -A (Primary Data)——106
3.5.2  Model Specification-  B (Secondary Data)—-  109

Chapter Four: Presentation and Interpretation of Results
4.1 Introduction———- 112
4.2  Reliability and Validity Checks—— 113
4.3  Descriptive Statistics (Primary Data)——  117
4.3.1  Independent variables Impacting Accounting Quality– 117
4.3.2  Correlation matrix of the Independent Variables—-124
4.3.3  Descriptive Statistics (Secondary Data)—-  130
4.3.4  Type of Industry——–  130
4.4  Descriptive Statistics on Explanatory Variables by Industry–  135
4.5 Analysis of Results and Test of Hypotheses—-  137
4.5.1 Model 1 (OLS Estimation Using Pooled Responses)—-138
4.5.2 Model 2 (OLS Estimation Using Compilers Responses)–  141
4.5.3 Model 3 (OLS Estimation Using UsersResponses)—-143
4.6–  Regression Results (Secondary Data)—— 157
4.7  Discussion of Findings——–170

Chapter Five: Discussion of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1  Introduction———- 185
5.2  Summary of Findings——–  185
5.3  Conclusions———- 187
5.4  Recommendations——–  189
5.5  Contribution to Knowledge——–191
5.6  Limitations of the Study——–191
5.7  Suggestions for Further Study——–193
Bibliography———- 193