Financial Control and Accountability in the Public Sector in Nigeria (Published)
The research work examined the usefulness of financial control and accountability in the public sector institutions in Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to investigate if the control of public funds is appropriate and to find out whether necessary accounts are kept and to examine the proper administration of government funds. The research was carried out, using the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State as the case study. Primary Data was collected through convenience sampling method and using self-administered questionnaires for 40 respondents. They included Staff in the Audit and Account department. Also, Secondary data was retrieved from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin on federally generated revenue and expenditure incurred (Capital and Revenue). Chi- Square was used to test the hypotheses. Simple Linear Regression was used to analyze the secondary data to test for the relationship between the revenue generated by federal government and expenditure incurred. From the findings, it was found that financial controls and accountability exist in the public sector. The researcher also found that a positive relationship exist between revenue generated by federal government and expenditures incurred. This study concluded that financial control and accountability is effective and efficient. Therefore, the study recommends that existing financial controls should be strengthened to improve accountability in the public sector in Nigeria.
Keywords: Accountability, Capital Expenditure, Public Sector, Recurrent Expenditure, Revenue, financial control
The Impact of Fiscal Policy on the Economy of Nigeria (1994 And 2014) (Published)
The study empirically examined the impact of fiscal policy on the economy of Nigeria between 1994 and 2014. Secondary method of data collection was used to generate data for this study and the sources of the data included annual reports /accounts and CBN statistical bulletin (2015). Multiple regression of ordinary least square estimation was the tool used to analyse the data in this study. In the model, real GDP (as dependent variable) was regressed on capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure, tax revenue and external debts. The study has revealed, that there exists no significant relationship between capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure, tax revenue and the real GDP representing the economy. However, the study found a significant negative relationship existing between external debts and the real GDP. This supports the Keynesian view of government active intervention in the economy using appropriate various policy instruments. The study therefore recommends that: Government should use fiscal policy to complement the adoption of effective monetary policy and maintain the rule of law to promote stability in the Nigerian economy. Government should ensure that capital expenditure and recurrent expenditure are properly managed in a manner that it will raise the nation’s production capacity and accelerate economic growth even as it reduces external borrowing.
Keywords: Capital Expenditure, Fiscal Policy, Nigerian Economy, Real GDP, Recurrent Expenditure