International public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) adoption and implementation in Nigerian public sector

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship between IPSAS adoption and financial reporting quality in South West, Nigeria. Specifically, it analysed the effect of IPSAS adoption on credibility and comparability of financial statements. Additionally; salient factors influencing IPSAS implementation were investigated. Primary data collected from one hundred and eighty accountants in South West Nigeria were analysed using tabulation, graphs, factor analysis, and Goodman and Kruskals gamma statistics. The empirical results indicated that IPSAS adoption exerted significant and positive relationships with financial reporting quality, credibility and comparability of financial statements. Decisively, discoveries from this study reflect that implementation cost, staff training, technological factor, IPSAS knowledge and awareness and availability of expertise significantly affect IPSAS implementation. However, findings further revealed that IPSAS implementation is not significantly influenced by institutional commitment, cultural, sociological, legal, political and environmental factors. Based on these findings, the authors recommend that considerable amount of money should be set aside for full adoption and implementation of IPSAS in Nigeria.