IMPACT OF BOARD ATTRIBUTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE INDUSTRIES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the impact of board attributes on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure in environmentally sensitive industries in Nigeria. The study population consists of 150 listed companies across 11 sectors of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Employing a purposive sampling technique, 26 companies were selected from four environmentally sensitive sectors of oil and gas, industrial goods, natural resources, and agriculture. The analysis is based on panel data from 27 firms over a six- year perisod (2018–2023), providing a comprehensive perspective on environmental, social, and governance disclosure trends. Board attributes include board independence, board gender diversity, board meetings, board committees, board size, and the presence of a social and responsibility committee. Additionally, firm size and profitability are incorporated as control variables to account for the potential effects on disclosure practices.
The findings of this study reveal that board independence, board meetings, board committee, board size, and social responsibility committee, positively and significantly influence environmental, social, and governance disclosure. However, board gender diversity exhibits positive and non-significant effect on environmental, social, and governance disclosure. These findings highlight the importance of robust governance structures, particularly larger and more competent boards, in driving environmental, social, and governance disclosure in Nigeria's environmentally sensitive industries. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers should strengthen governance frameworks to enhance sustainability practices and transparency. Also, organisations should endeavour to comply with the standard of the relevant regulatory framework on environmental, social, and governance disclosure so as to attract investors.