Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Tax Aggressiveness of Listed Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined corporate governance mechanisms and tax aggressiveness of listed firms in Nigeria. Eighty- five (85) quoted non- financial firms were selected and data were collected over the period 2012 to 2016. Inferential statistics consisting of General Method of Moment was used for the data analysis. This was after carrying out unit root test and other diagnostic tests respectively. The results obtained reveal that corporate governance mechanisms exert significant impact on tax aggressiveness in Nigeria. Specifically, ownership concentration and managerial ownership were positive and significantly impacts tax aggressiveness of listed non- financial firms in Nigeria whereas board size negatively and significantly impact tax aggressiveness over the reference period. Board gender diversity and board independence were significant and exert negative influence on tax aggressiveness of firms in Nigeria. The study recommended that there has to be a designed framework to efficiently and effectively monitor the interaction between corporate governance mechanisms and managers’ rent extraction due to tax aggressive behaviour. This will drastically minimize the tendency for them to engage in rent seeking behaviour. Firms should create a tax department that should be regarded as profit centers that should be manned by tax experts / auditors who are deemed to be imbued with wide experience on tax strategies to minimize tax expense payment.