Effect of Audit Committee Attributes on Related Party Disclosures of Listed Financial Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the extent to which audit committee characteristics influence related party disclosures (RPDs) among financial service firms quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). The analysis focused on key audit committee attributes independence, financial expertise, meeting frequency, and gender diversity while firm size and leverage were included as control variables. A longitudinal research design was adopted, covering the period from 2014 to 2023. Data were obtained from the published annual reports of the sampled firms and analyzed using panel regression techniques. The empirical evidence indicates that audit committee independence, financial expertise, gender diversity, and firm size significantly enhance the level of related party disclosures. In contrast, neither audit committee meeting frequency nor leverage exhibited a statistically significant relationship with disclosure practices. The verdicts suggest that the effectiveness of audit committees depends more on their composition and professional competence than on the frequency of their meetings. The study therefore advocates strengthening the independence, financial competence, and diversity of audit committees, alongside reinforcing regulatory oversight, to improve the quality of related party disclosures and promote greater corporate transparency within Nigeria's financial services sector.