DETERMINANTS OF EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF LISTED OIL AND GAS FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The practice of earnings management is gaining increased recognition. The factors that affect managing earnings in the Nigerian petroleum industry remain ambiguous. Consequently, the present study investigated the determinants that impact the revenue management practises of publicly traded Nigerian oil and gas enterprises. A correlational study method was employed to establish the association among the specified predictors of management of earnings. The sample consisted of seven (7) petroleum companies, which were selected from a total of fifteen (15) organizations. The temporal scope of the study spanned six years, specifically from 2010 to 2015. The selected corporations' publicly available yearly reports were utilised as the secondary data source. Utilising regression technique, the data were examined. The outcomes of the analysis implies that there exists a negative and substantial association between the management of listed petroleum firms in Nigeria and both external sector specialisation and audit committee gender. Conversely, external audit tenure and external sector specialisation exhibit a positive and substantial association with the management of registered petroleum firms. The study revealed that there is no association among the fees charged for external audits and the practise of managing profits among petroleum corporations listed in Nigeria. Hence, it is suggested that petroleum firms ought to rotate auditors who possess expertise in auditing the petroleum industry periodically, promote the utilisation of auditors with extended tenures, and persist in appointing additional female members to the audit committee in Nigeria.