Effect of Board Attributes on Earnings Management of Listed Health Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

Board attribute has become an important agenda for listed companies in any stock exchange market globally. This study examined effect of board attribute on earning management of listed health firm in Nigeria covering the period of ten (10) year 2011-2020. The study adopted ex-post facto research design and secondary data was used for analysis which was obtained from Nigerian Exchange Group. Panel regression analysis technique was used to analyse research data. The result showed that when taken individually and collectively, board size (BS), board frequency meeting (BFM) used as proxies for board attribute has a positive and significant effect on discretionary accrual also taken as a measure of earning management. The study therefore concludes that board size and board frequency meeting has a significantly positive effect on earnings management and does substantially reduces the earnings of listed health firms in Nigeria. The study recommend that board size of listed health firms in Nigeria should be increased and also add more non-executive directors so that they can pay more attention in monitoring management to avoid earning manipulation.