AUDIT COMMITTEE ATTRIBUTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE IN LISTED CONSUMER GOODS FIRMS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACTS The study examined audit committee attributes and environmental information disclosure in listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigates the effect of audit committee independence on environmental information disclosure in listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria, assess the effect of audit committee size on environmental information disclosure in listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria and examine how audit committee financial expertise affect environmental information disclosure in listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The study employed an ex post facto research design. Data used was collected from secondary sources through the annual report of selected consumer goods firms for the period of 2012 to 2023. The population of this study consist of 21 consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group as of December 2023. A total number of ten (10) consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group were sampled using a purposive sampling technique. The study adopted multiple regression analysis. The findings show that audit committee independence (AUDCIND) has a positive and significant effect on environmental disclosure practices (coefficient= 0.0214, p-value =0.0344). Audit committee size (AUDCS) has a positive and significant effect on environmental disclosure practices (coefficient= 0.0076, p-value =0.0455). Audit committee financial expertise (AUDCFE) has a positive and significant effect on environmental disclosure practices (coefficient= 0.0384, p-value =0.0380). it was therefore recommended that firms should ensure that a majority of audit committee members are independent directors, free from executive influence, in order to enhance unbiased oversight of environmental disclosures. Firms should maintain an optimal size of 5–7 members to ensure efficiency, diversity, and effective coordination. Firms should increase the representation of members with financial literacy and professional accounting backgrounds on audit committees, while also incorporating training in sustainability reporting.