Audit committee multiple directorships and financial reporting quality in Nigeria: An evaluation of the interconnectedness using empirical evidence

Abstract

The audit committee plays an oversight role in overseeing financial reporting. It is not uncommon to see directors sit on the audit committee of more than three public companies. In Nigeria, because of the small pool of directors available to the market, it is quite common for directors to serve on many boards. Against the backdrop that there are arguments for and against multiple directorships in the light of the quality of financial reports, opinion is split on the matter. The study seeks to examine the interconnectedness between audit committee multiple directorship and financial reporting quality in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research, using questionnaire as the research instrument to harvest the views of stakeholders of publicly quoted companies on the subject. Data was analysed using percentage analysis, weighted mean, and the Z-test statistics at 5% significance level. It was observed that audit committee multiple directorship impacts the quality of corporate financial reporting. Also, financial literacy of audit committee members enhances the effective overseeing of corporation’s financial controls and the quality of financial reporting. The study therefore supports the need for a high degree of financial literacy on the part of audit committee members to enhance effectiveness. It is recommended that regulatory agencies in Nigeria should also institute legislation similar to the Sarbanes Oxley act of the United States of America in order to curb the menace of earnings management and other unethical financial reporting practices.