Evaluation of Stakeholders’ Ranking of Impediments to Enforcement of Annual Audit Rulings on Government Entities in Nigeria

This study evaluated stakeholders' ranking of the factors that inhibit enforcement of annual audit rulings on government entities in Nigeria. Accountants, law enforcement agents and judicial officers constituted the research population. Two hundred population elements made-up the sample size. The study employed a combination of convenience, purposive and simple random sampling techniques in selecting sample elements. Primary sources provided the analyzed data. The researcher used both descriptive and inferential statistics in data analysis. For test of hypothesis, the study used a combination of chi square and Kendall tau-b coefficient of concordance. Use of chi square was necessary because the items ranked were more than seven in number. Of the eight identified factors, respondents ranked lip-service commitment of top government officials as number one inhibitor. Limiting powers of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) had the least (8th) ranking. The study, however, found no significant correlation in the rankings by the stakeholders. The study recommended the setting up of Nigerian Public Sector Accounting Service Council (NPSASC), with powers to recommend the appointment and removal of Auditor-General for the Federation and States to the President and Governors respectively. Also recommended is provisions for mandatory enforcement of all audit rulings in Nigeria's audit jurisprudence and additional powers for the Auditors –General to refer indicted persons directly to the EFCC after three months of inaction by the legislature, and for the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to institute actions against both legislators and law enforcement agencies for audit enforcement breaches