CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF NIGERIAN BANKS

 

The study examined the impact of corporate governance and financial performance of Nigerian banking industry using First Bank Plc as case study. Board composition, board size, CEO’s duality status and number of shareholders were proxies for corporate governance and return on asset, return on equity and net profit margin were proxies for financial performance. The objectives of the study were to examine the impact of corporate governance variables on return on asset, return on equity and net profit margin. Secondary data related to the variables of interest were obtained from the annual financial statement of the sampled bank between 2011 and 2016. The data obtained were subjected to the statistical techniques of descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results amongst others, indicated that corporate governance has significant impact on return on asset, return on equity and net profit margin. Furthermore, it was found that board size negatively impact on financial performance while board composition and number of shareholder positively impact on financial performance. The regression coefficient of CEO’s duality status was not obtained because the sampled bank has different persons occupying the positions of CEO and board chairman within the period estimated. To this end, the study suggests amongst others that companies should ensure that majority of their board members are independent, meaning that the directors are not employees of the companies and do not depend on it for their livelihood so that they can fearlessly and honestly monitor the activities of the CEO and other executive directors. This will also help to limit the possibility of the CEO and executive directors to exploit the company to their own advantage.

 

 

 

The growth and development of every economy depends on the country’s financial system. In Nigeria, the banking industry practically commands the financial sector. The industry has undergone series of restructuring all geared towards protecting deposit funds, maintaining and ensuring soundness of banking and improving the welfare of employees and stakeholders. The banking sector has been bedeviled with internal (workers and investors) and external (public and depositors) dissatisfaction culminating to image problem. As a result, most banks have sort for improved techniques like information and communication technology (ICT), total quality management strategies, corporate governance strategies, repackaging and rebranding, to compete more effectively to solve these problems and as well to enhance their financial and corporate performance (Akintoye, 2010; Adekunle, 2013).