Nigerian banking sector struggle with challenges in the day to day running of their business activities, challenges are enormous and can either be market or operational challenges and regulatory or reforms challenges instituted by the regulatory agencies such as CBN, NDIC, SEC and CIBN etc. Therefore, this paper seeks to examine the challenges facing the Nigerian banking sector and proper possible solutions to the challenges based on the prevailing economic environment. The paper utilized questionnaires as source of data collection, fifteen out of 24 banks were selected based on purposive sampling method. Chi-Square (x2) method was adopted as a statistical tool of data analysis to analyze the collected data.  The result reveals that myriad of challenges exist in the Nigerian banking sector some of which are challenges both within and outside Nigeria. Banks are left behind in technological innovation aspect of banking transactions, movement of high volume of deposit or capital flight to foreign banks by the political class which reduce banks opportunity to expand their market base and the prevalent of fraud in the sector also hinders the banks progress, these challenges affects the sector to compete equally with banking sector in the developed nations. However, we also found that the challenges does not affect their financial performance. It is recommended that that government and relevant regulatory agencies should put heads together to render support and address those challenges identified that affect the sector, also Nigerian banking sector should invest in both technological innovation and human capital development, they should imbibe the culture of good corporate governance and stick to the issue of banking ethics and professionalism among others.

In this study an attempt was made to evaluate the role of commercial banks in financing small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. There is absolutely no doubt that small and medium scale enterprises play a pivotal role and contributes tremendously to the economic growth and development of many developing economy including Nigeria, but survival of Small and medium scale enterprises is often hampered by access to finance which key players were making attempt to solve. The objective of this study is to evaluate the extent to which commercial banks in Nigeria play their role in solving financing needs of small and medium scale enterprises. The study employed secondary data which use the ratio of loans to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises by commercial banks as a percentage of their total credit for the period between 1991-2012.The study utilize paired sample t-test and significance of ratio of loans to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises was tested to access the performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Equity Investment Scheme by banks to provide finance to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. The result shows that commercial banks loans even with the equity scheme introduction do not make significance positive impact on loan disbursement to finance SMEs. It is recommended that Nigerian commercial banks should embrace risk-averse behavior in respect of loans to SMEs, interest rate should be review for SMEs loans by Central bank of Nigeria and increase SMEEIS contribution by commercial banks. Specialized bank should be established by government to finance SMEs; it should also provide adequate infrastructural facilities in the country and address present security challenges so as to make Nigeria conducive for SMEs to operate.

Objective – This study examines conceptually corporate social responsibility and earnings management measurement approach review.  It reviews existing measurement approaches used in the empirical studies. Problems that led to lack of standardize measurement approach for both CSR and EM were identified and the solutions to the problems were highlighted. Design/methodology – Explanatory research design was employed in the study to review measurements approach for the earnings management and corporate social responsibility used by previous empirical studies. Results – The review of measurement approach reveals that up to today there is no standardized way to measure CSR and EM as studies normally select the method that suit their purpose. Some of the points of contention among scholars  were lack of consensus on the best and standardized way to measure CSR, subjectivity and bias issue with regards to measurement, myriads of models for EM measurement and the voluntary nature of CSR activities and disclosure way. However, in order to address the contentious issues, this study, therefore recommends that relevant agencies should set up standardize way to measure CSR of different companies, on their part government and authorities concern should find way to standardized CSR reporting, makes CSR activities and disclosure mandatory for companies and separation of measurement approach for financial related business companies and non-financial related business companies should be done.

This study examines the impact of internal auditing on the financial management of local government, with particular reference and attention to the katagum local government area of Bauchi state. Staff of internal audit, finance and account constitutes the population of the study from which a sample size of forty (40) respondents was selected based on convenience sampling method. Chi-square (x2) method was adopted as a statistical tool of data analysis to analyze the collected data. The result indicates that internal audit impact positively and significantly on the financial management of Katagum local government. It is recommended that internal audit unit of the Katagum local government should be allowed to fully access all the local government account and records, properties and investments files to carry out their duties diligently. Internal audit unit staff should also be allow attending workshops, seminars, conferences in order to broaden their knowledge.  Adequate independence should be given to the unit to discharge their duties without due interference and regular review of the whole system of internal control in the local government should be carried out.

There is continuous pressure on companies to be more responsible in their activities to the environment. Companies' engagement in socially responsible projects by companies demonstrates their concern for a society that goes beyond profit. This paper examined CSR and EM in the Nigerian listed industrial goods companies. The lack of studies in Nigeria motivates the researcher to bridge the gap. Secondary data for the period of 2009-2018 of the eleven (11) industrial goods companies listed on the floor of the stock exchange was utilized. A regression analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The finding reveals that EM has a significant and positive effect on the CSR of listed Nigerian industrial goods companies. The study recommends that stakeholders, especially investors, creditors, and shareholders in the Nigerian listed industrial goods companies should give attention to the CSR practices of those companies as management might use that to cover up their manipulative practice. This would help them get insights and pay attention while taking decisions to grants loans on the expected transparency of earnings reported by those companies and should also pay adequate attention to the implementation of CSR projects by companies operating in the sector since the existence of EM practice is confirmed in the sector. Regulators like SEC, NSE, CBN and FRCN and auditors in Nigeria should put appropriate and proper measures in place for adequate scrutinization, examination, and evaluation of those companies for the detection of EM practice and finally, Accounting Standards like GAAP that give free hands to management to decide on the method of accounting policies should come up with definite restrictive methods on some accounting policies to constrain EM.