JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS

The study investigated the impact of audit independence, audit firm size on financial reporting quality of listed financial services firms in Nigeria. Ex-post facts research design was utilized for the study. The source of data for the study is secondary and was collected through anuual reports of the listed financial services firms, purposive sampling technique was used and data collected were analyzed using (ordinary least square robust (OLS). Findings of the study revealed that audit independence, audit firm size showing significant impact on financial reporting quality. The study, based on the research findings concluded that audit independence with positive impact play a vital role in assuring and promoting the audience of shareholders and potential investors on financial statement, by demonstrating stronger oversight and strategic decision which enhances the credibility and transparency of financial reports. Also concluded that firms audited by more larger or more reputable firms typical associated with stronger regulated compliance and professional expertise tend to produce higher quality financial reports. It recommends among others that regulatory authorities should continue to enforce strict audit independence standards to ensure there are no conflicts of interest that could influence the auditors work.

This study aimed to further evaluate the relationship between federal tax revenue and government expenditure in Nigeria between the years 2009 to 2023. This research focused on VAT, PPT and CIT as proxies for federal government’s portion of tax revenue and analyzed their significance on capital expenditure. The study drew attention to the challenges attributed to Nigeria's low tax-to-GDP ratio, which limits revenue mobilization, therefore increasing borrowing. The study used time series data to compile data from Central bank statistical bulletin and Federal Inland Revenue Service between 2009 and 2023. Data gathered over the years were analyzed using descriptive statistics, unit root tests and co-integration tests and estimation using fully-modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), canonical co-integrating regression (CCR) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). The study revealed that VAT had a positive and significant effect on CAPEX ( = 0.2301, p = 0.0057 < 0.01). It also showed that PPT had a positive and significant effect on CAPEX ( = 0.2301, p = 0.0057 < 0.01). Additionally, CIT was shown to have a positive but statistically insignificant effect on CAPEX ( = 0.3432, p = 0.1752 > 0.1). The study suggested possible fiscal reforms to improve tax collection, reduce overreliance of external borrowing, and promote economic development. The findings are expected to assist policymakers in formulating effective fiscal policies that improve government spending efficiency and promote public welfare.

This study investigates the nexus between managerial ownership (MO) and the reporting outcomes of Total Comprehensive Income (TCI) among listed financial firms in Nigeria. Covering the period 2020–2024, the research examines how director equity stakes influence the transparency of "Other Comprehensive Income" (OCI) components, such as unrealized gains/losses on financial assets and foreign exchange revaluations. Using a panel data approach with fixed-effects regression on 150 firm-year observations from financial firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), findings indicate an average TCI of ₦17.98 million. Results show that managerial ownership has a significant positive effect on TCI reporting quality, supporting the interest-alignment argument of Agency Theory. However, the data also suggests that excessive ownership leads to entrenchment, particularly during the 2024 currency volatility and recapitalization cycles.