Impact of Firm Performance on Corporate Governance Quality: The Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms

Abstract

In this study, the reverse impact of firm corporate performance on board structure is empirically examined using a large cross section of 50 manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study makes a divergence from previous studies by noting that such a reverse effect is possible and examining this effect of performance on board structure in Nigeria. The panel data estimation technique is employed on the pooled data for the firms over a ten-year period (2004-2013) and estimation is performed using four measures of firm performance and two measures of board structure. The results show that there is actually reverse impact of firm performance on board structure although the effect is quite weak. The only performance variable that exerts significant impact on board structure (board size and independence) is earnings per share and, to a lesser degree profit margin. Moreover, firm size is shown to be an essential factor in explaining the general behavior of firm performance and also the pattern of effect of such performance on the board structure. The analyses clearly showed that firm size is itself a strong positive factor in improving firm performance and also tends to improve the effect of high performance on board structure across the firms.