Using Unobserved Effects Model to Analyse the Relationship Between Audit Committee Qualities and Tax Engineering of Listed Firms in Nigeria

Authors

  • Sunday Abah Okoliko

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64321/jcr.v3i3.08

Keywords:

Audit Committee, Tax Aggressiveness, Gender Diversity, Meeting Frequency, Expertise

Abstract

This research examines how audit committee features impact tax aggressiveness in Nigerian publicly traded firms. It explores how independence, competence, gender diversity, and meeting frequency affect book-tax differential. The investigation was longitudinal. The research population includes 155 Nigerian Exchange Group (NXG) Plc-listed enterprises. Ninety-two Nigerian publicly listed firms were sampled using judgement and filter criteria. The annual reports and accounts of 92 Nigerian Exchange Group Plc enterprises from 2015 to 2024 provided 920 secondary data points. Data were examined using the Unobserved Effects Model (fixed and random effects) using pooled OLS and Hausman specification tests. The frequency of audit committee meetings was not significantly linked with the tax aggression of listed corporations in Nigeria. Nevertheless, the audit committee's independence, competence, and gender diversity were demonstrated to be inversely related. The study recommends mandating professional qualifications for audit committees, promoting gender diversity, increasing independent directors, improving ethical tax behaviour in Nigeria, and dedicating structured time to tax-risk management at meetings.

Author Biography

Sunday Abah Okoliko

Department of Accountancy, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi state, Nigeria

References

Aliani, K. (2014). CEO characteristics and corporate tax planning evidence from US companies. 12(1), 78–96. International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting, 6(1):49 – 59 DOI:10.1504/IJMFA.2014.060508

Arismajayanti, N. P. A. & Jati, I. K. (2017). Influence of audit committee competence, audit committee independence, independent commissioner and leverage on tax aggressiveness. Journal of Auditing, Finance, and Forensic Accounting, 5(2), 109-119. DOI:10.21107/jaffa.v5i2.3767

Ariyani, N.F., & Harto, P. (2014). Pengaruh mekanisme pengawasan stakeholderterhadap tindakan agresivitas pajak. Diponegoro Journal of Accounting, 3(4), 2–11.

Banwo, A., & Ighodalo, B. (2019). Legal framework in Nigeria: Taxpayers' right to strategically arrange financial affairs and ethical standards. Nigerian Tax Law Review, 12(1), 56–78.

Carter, D. A., Simkins, B. J., & Simpson, W. G. (2003). Corporate governance, board diversity, and firm value. The Financial Review, 38(1), 33–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6288.00034

Christensen, J., & Murphy, R. (2004). The social irresponsibility of corporate tax avoidance: taking CSR to the bottom line. Development, 47, 37–44. DOI:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100066

Dang, V. C., & Nguyen, Q. K. (2022). Audit committee characteristics and tax avoidance: Evidence from an emerging economy, Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, 10(1), 2023263–202. DOI: 10.1080/23322039.2021.2023263

Desai, M. A., & Dharmapala, D. (2006). Corporate Tax Avoidance and High-Powered Incentives. Journal of Financial Economics, 79, 145–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2005.02.002.

Deslandes, M., Fortin, A., & Landry, S. (2020). Audit committee characteristics and tax aggressiveness. Managerial Auditing Journal, 35(2): 272–293. DOI:10.1108/MAJ-12-2018-2109

DeZoort, F. T., Hermanson, D. R., Archambeault, D. S., & Reed, S. A. (2002). Audit committee effectiveness: A synthesis of the empirical audit committee literature. Journal of Accounting Literature, 21, 38–75

Eagly, A. H., Johannesen-Schmidt, M. C., & van Engen, M. L. (2003). Transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles: A meta-analysis comparing women and men. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 569–591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.4.569

Ernst & Young. (2014). The role of the audit committee in tax-risk management and board decision-making. EY Publications.

Guardian Newspaper. (2019, October 24). Nigeria loses about USD 15 billion annually due to tax fraud. https://x.com/GuardianNigeria/status/1947922317620724178

Hanlon, M., & Heitzman, S. (2010). A review of tax research. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(2–3), 127–178. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.09.002

Islam, M.N. & Hashim, F. (2023). Audit committee attributes and corporate tax avoidance: the moderating role of audit committee independence. International Journal of Advanced Research in Economics and Finance, 5(1), 99–113

Judge, G., Griffiths, W.E., Hill, R.C., Lutkepohl, H. & Lee, T.C. (1985). The Theory and Practice of Econometrics. 2nd Edition, Wiley, New York.

Krishnan, J., & Visvanathan, G. (2008). Does the SOX definition of financial expertise for audit committee members matter? The association between audit committee members' backgrounds and earnings quality. Contemporary Accounting Research, 25(3), 827–858. DOI:10.2139/ssrn.866884

Lanis, R., & Richardson, G. (2011). The effect of board of director composition on corporate tax aggressiveness. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 30(1), 50–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2010.09.003

Meidyawati, A. & Fardinal. (2023). The influence of CEO demography characteristics, profitability and the quality of external auditors on tax aggressiveness of family firms. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(3), 402-412

Nielsen, S. & Huse, M. (2010). The contribution of women on boards of directors: going beyond the surface. Corporate governance: An International Review, 18, 136-148.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2010.00784.x

Nwaobia, A.N. & Jayeoba, O.O. (2016). Tax planning and firms' liquidity. IJRDO, Journal of Business Management, 2(10), 1-22.

Ogbeide, S. O. & Iyafekhe, C. (2018). Empirical assessment of tax aggressiveness of listed firms in Nigeria. Accounting and Taxation Review, 2(3), 13-29.

Pomeroy, B. (2010). Audit committee member investigation of significant accounting decisions. Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory 29(1), 173-205.

Prastiwi, D., & Ratnasari, R. (2019). The influence of thin capitalization and the executives’ characteristics toward tax avoidance by manufacturers registered on ISE in 2011-2015. AKRUAL: Jurnal Akuntansi, 10(2), 119. https://doi.org/10.26740/jaj.v10n2.p119-134

Raimo, N., Massimo M., Alessandra, C., & Marianna, Z. (2021). Extending the benefits of ESG disclosure: The effect on the cost of debt financing. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(4), 1412-1421. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2134

Rospitasari, N. R., & Oktaviani, R. M. (2021). Analysis of the influence of audit committees, independent commissioners and audit quality on tax avoidance. MEA Scientific Journal (Management, Economics, & Accounting, 5(3), 3087–3099

Saleh, A., & Muhsin, A. (2019). Looking for empirical evidence between accounting conservatism and ownership structure towards the aggressive tax avoidance in public listed companies of Indonesia. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 10(10), 21–26. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA

Utaminingsih, N., Kurniasih, D., Pramono Sari, M., & Rahardian Ary Helmina, M. (2022). The role of internal control in the relationship of board gender diversity, audit committee, and independent commissioner on tax aggressiveness. Cogent Business and Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2122333

Vanguard Newspaper. (2021, January 11). Nigeria lost approximately ₦5.4 trillion due to tax evasion. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/nigeria-lost-n5-4trn-to-tax-evasion-by-multi-nationals-firs-boss/

Ved, M. J., & Sjarief, J. (2022). Analysis of capital intensity, sales growth, and audit committee on tax aggressiveness. SIMAK, 20(2), 256–272. https://doi.org/10.35129/simak.v20i02.372

Wicaksono, A., & Oktaviani, R. (2021). Effect of CEO characteristics toward tax aggressiveness: overview of Indonesia family firms. Jurnal Ekonom, 26(2), 189-205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24912/je.v26i2.745

Yuliani, N. A., & Prastiwi, D. (2021). Pengaruh Dewan Komisaris Independen, Komite Audit, Dan Kepemilikan Institusional Terhadap Agresivitas Pajak. Jurnal Riset Akuntansi Dan Keuangan, 9(1), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.17509/jrak.v9i1.27573

Downloads

Published

2026-05-14

How to Cite

Sunday Abah Okoliko. (2026). Using Unobserved Effects Model to Analyse the Relationship Between Audit Committee Qualities and Tax Engineering of Listed Firms in Nigeria. Journal of Current Research and Studies, 3(3), 82–93. https://doi.org/10.64321/jcr.v3i3.08