Effect of Corporate Governance Mechanisms on Tax Aggressiveness among Quoted Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

This study is necessitated to assess the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on tax aggressiveness among manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The ex-post facto research design was employed and secondary data (corporate governance mechanisms - board size, board diversity, and tax aggressiveness measure of effective tax rate) involving forty-four (44) publicly quoted manufacturing companies were obtained for a period of 2008-2020. The study employed panel data analysis which is a combination of time series and cross sectional data analysis. The multiple regression equation was set up to investigate the hypothesized relationships between the dependent variable (tax aggressiveness) and independent variables (board size, board diversity, independent directors, proportion of non-executive directors to executive directors and return on asset as a control variable) in this study. Based on the analysis of data, it showed that when taken individually, board size and board diversity, both have a positive, but insignificant effect on tax aggressiveness, while return on asset (used as a control variable) has a positive and significant effect on tax aggressiveness. Based on the findings of the study, the study concluded that there exist a significant relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and tax aggressiveness of quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria and it was recommended among others that Individuals, partnership business, shareholders and government who employ the services of board of directors in Nigeria should ensure that the board members have the right size (coupled with the right competence and experience), that can be brought to bear positively on the organization.