In this study the evidence over the existence and magnitude of the assumed negative relation between accounting conservatism and firm performance in Nigeria was examined. Data from the annual financial statements of firms under the Consumer Goods sectoral classification on the Nigerian Stock exchange was used. The hypotheses were tested using the panel least squares while assuming the fixed effects. Opposed to the assumed negative relation, findings from the study suggest that accounting conservatism has a positive but non-significant effect on firm performance. This implies that firms in the Nigerian Consumer Goods sector do not practice accounting conservatism and hence produce low financial reporting quality. This is given the absence of accruals quality achieved when the reported information reported is credible and free of error and bias, intentional or otherwise. The study recommends that firms in Nigeria should be penalised if reported information are found to incomplete and opaque not free of error and bias.

The uncertainty surrounding oil and gas reserves estimation and the cost of gathering reserves data discourage firms from disclosing sufficient data to satisfy SORP (statement of recommended practice) requirements, especially where oil and gas reserves disclosure is discretionary. However, the need to reduce agency cost and signal to stakeholders induces firms to disclose oil and gas reserves. The contrasting views on the rationale guiding the extent of disclosure were examined in this study. A sample was drawn from 83 United Kingdom (UK) oil and gas exploration and production companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Appropriate statistical tools were used to investigate the extent of oil and gas reserves disclosure. The findings provide mixed results about the extent of disclosure to meet SORP's requirements. There was no particular evidence that UK oil and gas companies provide qualitatively acceptable oil and gas reserves quantity information. The observed varying degrees of disclosure in the market could be attributed to a discretionary regime that allows firms to determine how and when to disclose. Policy makers and industry regulators could find the results useful in assessing the current extent of disclosure compliance.Correspondence: Cosmas Ogobuchi Odo,

Given the recent developments in the Nigerian banking industry, only a profitable banking sector is better able to withstand negative shocks and contribute to the stability of the financial system. This assertion compels an in depth investigation of the determinants of the profitability of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Our data set is made up of 147 bank level observations over a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010 in respect of 15 banks that satisfied the study requirements. Data were obtained from the annual reports and accounts of the sampled banks. Pooled OLS (Pooled ordinary least square) stated in a multiple regression form was used to estimate the coefficients. Major outcomes of the analysis include that increase in size (higher total assets) may not necessarily lead to higher profits due to diseconomies of scale; higher capital-assets ratio and loans and advances contribute strongly to bank profitability. Overall, the paper suggests bank size, capital and asset composition as the major endogenous determinants of bank profitability in Nigeria.

This study examines the effect of audit quality on share prices of Nigerian oil and gas firms using the regression and covariance analyses. Findings from the regression anlysis suggests that the composition of the audit committee and auditor type has significant effect on the market prices of quoted firms. There is a positive and significant relationship between audit committee composition and share prices. The covariance analysis suggests that while auditor type (BIG4/NONBIG4), auditor independence, and composition of the audit committee have a positive and significant relationship with market price of shares, tenure of external auditors has a negative relationship with the market price of shares. The implication of the findings is that audit quality will enhance reported earnings and hence the share market prices. The study recommends that firms should strive to associate with the BIG4 external auditors in Nigeria as such an association could enhance the credibility of the audit process and by extension their share prices; regulatory authorities should discourage joint audit and non-audit services to firms because it could threaten the independence of external auditors. Regulatory agencies should also present distinct statements on the tenure of the external auditors to be clearly stated in annual reports. This is because a long attachment between the external auditors and a client may threaten the independence of the external auditors.

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