Discretionary Accruals Earnings Management on Performance of Nigerian Listed Oil and Gas Companies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2024.v2i4.128.39-48Keywords:
Discretionary Accruals, Return on Assets, Leverage, Liquidity, Nigerian Listed Oil and Gas CompaniesAbstract
This study determines the impact of discretionary accruals earnings management on the financial performance of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The study used panel data obtained from the annual reports and accounts of listed oil and Gas companies for a period of ten years (2013-2022). The dependent variable of the study is financial performance measured by return on assets (ROA), with leverage and liquidity as control variables. Panel regression was used to explore the effect and association of the dependent variable and two control variables (LEV and LIQ) with the independent variable discretionary accruals earnings management (DAEM), which were regressed using the EViews version 12 statistical package. The results obtained indicated the presence of earning management practices among the oil and gas managers. The managers manipulate the companies’ data in order to earn selfishly. The paper finally brings to the fore the modalities that the affected companies can take in order to stop the menace.
References
Ahmed, F., & Ahmed, J. (2018). Managing Earnings V/S Strategizing Dividends: Sectoral Evidence from Pakistan Stock Exchange. DeReMa (Development Research of Management): Jurnal Manajemen, 13(2), 218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19166/derema.v13i2.1049
Acar, G., & Coskun, A. (2020). A comparison of models for predicting discretionary accruals: A cross-country analysis. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(9), 315–328. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no9.315
Alrjoub, A. M. S., Almomani, S. N., Al-Hosban, A. A., & Allahham, M. I. (2021). The Impact of Financial Performance On Earnings Management Practice Behavior (An Empirical Study On Financial Companies In Jordan). Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 20(Special Issue 2), 1–15.
Alexander, D. & Augustine, L. (2016) “Introduction to the special issue on National perspectives on International Accounting Harmonization”, Accounting and Management Information Systems, Vol. 10, No. 2, 102– 105.
Aliu, N.O. (2010). Effect of Capital Structure on the Performance of QuotedManufacturing Firms in Nigeria. Master Thesis, Department of Accounting and Finance, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Apiti, C. U., Ugwoke, R. . O., & Chiekezie, N. R. (2017). Intellectual Capital Management and Organizational Performance in Selected Food and Beverage Companies in Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, 2(1).
Bergstresser, D., & Philippon, T. (2006). CEO incentives and earnings management. Journal of Financial Economics, 80(3), 511–529. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2004.10.011
Bodan, M. El, Aga, M., & Alrub, A. A. (2017). Impact of Corporate Governance and External Audit on Earning Management. Evidence from the Financial Sector of United Arabs of Emirates (UAE). International Journal of Finance and Accounting, 6(6), 172–178.
Buchner, A., Mohamed, A., & Saadouni, B. (2017). The association between earnings forecast in IPOs prospectuses and earnings management: An empirical analysis. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 51, 92–105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2017.08.008
DeAngelo, L.E. (1986), “Accounting numbers as market valuation substitutes: a study of management buyouts of public stockholders”, Accounting Review, pp. 400-420 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-4491632
Dechow, P. Malatesta.N, & Sofeik, I. D. (2001). The quality of accruals and earnings: The role of accrual estimation errors. The Accounting Review, 77(1), 35-59. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/3203324 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2002.77.s-1.35
Gbadebo, A. D. (2024). Impact of Regulatory Change on Income Smoothing and Earning Distortions ? Evidence from a Univariate Approach. 20(3), 59–71.
Ghorbani, S., Shokri, A., Hosseini, S. H., & Rahmani, A. A. R. (2023). Characteristics of Audit Committee and Earnings Management in Developing and Developed Countries, Using Meta-Analysis Approach. … Journal of Finance & …, 8(28), 89–106. https://ijfma.srbiau.ac.ir/article_20525.html%0Ahttps://ijfma.srbiau.ac.ir/article_20525_5433364384987de7d654cf1feb243604.pdf
Dianita, E. R., Rahmawati, R., & Damayanti, E. (2011). Finding a Way Out of Children’s Emotional Development Problems Caused by Working Mothers: A Study in Indonesia (Vol. 1). Atlantis Press SARL.
Dyreng, S. D., Hanlon, M., & Maydew, E. L. (2011). The Effects of Executives on Corporate Tax Avoidance. SSRN Electronic Journal. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2010.85.4.1163
Eitokpa, O. H. (2015). Determinant of Finacial Performance Of Listed Food and Beverages Companies in Nigeria (Vol. 151, Issue 2).
Essien, M. D., & Akpan, D. C. (2024). Board Diversity and Earnings Quality of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR], 2(2), 17-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2024.v2i2.91.17-31
Farouk, M. A. (2019). Impact of Characteristics of Firm on Quality of Financial Reporting of Quoted Industrial Goods Companies in Nigeria. Amity Journal of Corporate Governance, 4(2).
Fredrik, K., & Cynthia, M. (2003). Accrual earnings management in response to an oil price shock. Journal of Commodity Markets, 22(April 2019), 100138. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomm.2020.100138
Geiger, M., & Smith, J. van der L. (2010). The effect of institutional and cultural factors on the perceptions of earnings management. Journal of International Accounting Research, 9(2), 21–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2308/jiar.2010.9.2.21
Hassan, S., & Ahmed, A. (2010). Corporate Governance, Earnings Management and Financial Performance: A Case of Nigerian Manufacturing Firms. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 2(7), 214-226.
Healy, P., & Wahlen, J. (1985). A Review of the Earnings Management Literature and its Implication for Standard Setting. Accounting Horizons, 13(4), 365-383. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2308/acch.1999.13.4.365
Mohammed, R. D. & Ebrahim, B. (2010). Evaluate the relationship between company performance and stock market liquidity. International journal of Academic research in accounting and finance and Management science
Nguyen Xuan Tho, L. T. D., & Huyen, N. T. T. (2021). Firm Financial Performance: A Review on Accounting & Market- Based Approach. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 10(6).
Obeitoh, O. O., Yunusa, A., & Yusuf, M. A. (2023). Effect of Board and Audit Committee Attributes on Earnings Management: Evidence from Listed Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria: Audit Committee, Board Expertise, Boards’ Size, Earnings Management and Financial Expertise. FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR], 1(2), 33-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2023.v1i2.26.33-50
Odokwo, R. A., Ibok, N., & Ukpong, E. G. (2024). Corporate Attributes and Earnings Management: Evidence from Listed Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR], 2(3), 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/fujafr-2024.v2i3.117.1-11
Omnamasivaya, B., & Prasad, M. S. V. (2016). The Influence of Financial Performance on Environmental Accounting Disclosure Practices in India: Empirical Evidence from BSE. IUP Journal of Accounting Research & Audit Practices, 15(3), 16–33. http://esc-web.lib.cbs.dk/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=117347961&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Pino, G. A. &Henrich , R. G. ( 2003). Performance and risk taking : less likely to fail ,low performance , firm size and factory expansion in the ship building industry.
Purwanti, D. (2016). Real Activities Manipulation (RAM) and Accrual-based Earning Management Pre and Post IFRS Adoption in Indonesia. 15(1), 96–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/gcbme-16.2016.16
Schipper, K., (1989). Earnings Management‖. Accounting Horizon. Desember: 91-102
Shapiro, J. (2005). ‘Competingontalentanalytics’. Harvard Business Review, 88: 10, 52–58. 10
Sunday, K. O., Sanyaolu, W. A., Tonade, A. A., & AdeyemiI, A. (2021). Corporate characteristics and earnings management of listed oil and gas firms in Nigeria. 22(4).
Tang, G., Chen, Y., Jiang, Y., Paillé, P., & Jia, J. (2015). Green human resource management practices: Scale development and validity. Asia Pacific Journal ofHuman Resources.
Teoh, S.H., Welch, I., Wong, T.J. (1998). Earnings management and the long-run market performance of initial public offerings. J. Finance 53 (6), 1935–1974. https:// DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00079
Theiri, S. &Ati, A. (2011). Determinants of financial performance : An Empirical Test using the Simultaneous Equation Methods.Economic and Finance Review 1(10) 1-19.
Tyokoso, G. M., Onho, S. I., & Bweseh, B. M. (2021). Tax identification number (TIN) and tax revenue performance. Accounting and Taxation Review, 5(2), 55–63.
Wali, S., & Masmoudi, S. M. (2020). Internal control and real earnings management in the French context. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 18(2), 363–387. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-09-2019-0117
Urooj, S. F., Khan, M. A., & Sindhu, M. I. (2019). Relationship between Earning Multiples, Corporate Governance and Earnings Management Practices: An Empirical View with a Mediation Analysis. Global Social Sciences Review, IV(I), 387–395. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).50
Yana, S. (2010). Factors that Determine Firm Performance of New Zealand Listed Companies. Master of Business, Auckland University of Technology
Yang, J. R. V. (2011). Earnings Management Emerging Insights in Theory, Practice, and Research. In J. S. Demski (Ed.), Finance Ethics: Critical Issues in Theory and Practice.
Yimenu, K. A., & Surur, S. A. (2019). Earning Management: From Agency and Signalling Theory Perspective in Ethiopia. Journal of Economics, Management and Trade, September, 1–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/jemt/2019/v24i630181
Yiadom, B. B. (2015). Investigating Into Earnings Management and the Performance of Selected Listed Firms in Ghana, 6.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research [FUJAFR]

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The FUDMA Journal of Accounting and Finance Research (FUJAFR) operates a copyright policy that ensures a balance between author rights and wide dissemination of scholarly work.
1. Author Copyright Retention
Authors retain full copyright of their published work without restriction. Submission to FUJAFR does not transfer ownership of copyright to the journal.
2. License to Publish
By submitting a manuscript and upon acceptance, authors grant FUJAFR:
- The right to publish, reproduce, and distribute the article
- The right to identify itself as the original publisher of the work
This grant is non-exclusive, meaning authors are free to reuse their work in other contexts, provided proper acknowledgment of the original publication in FUJAFR is made.
3. Licensing of Published Content
All articles are published under the:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Under this license:
- Users may share and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes only
- Proper attribution to the author(s) and the journal is required
- Any commercial use requires explicit permission from the copyright holder
4. Author Reuse Rights
Authors are permitted to:
- Archive their published articles in institutional repositories or personal websites
- Share their work for educational and research purposes
- Reuse portions of their work in future publications (e.g., books or other articles), provided proper citation of the original publication is included
5. Third-Party Content
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use any third-party copyrighted material (e.g., images, tables, datasets) included in their manuscripts. Proper acknowledgment must be provided where required.
6. Attribution Requirement
All users of FUJAFR content must provide appropriate credit, including:
- Author name(s)
- Article title
- Journal name (FUJAFR)
- Year of publication












