BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DISCLOSURE: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIAN LISTED FIRMS

The study investigates the relationship between board characteristics and corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) in Nigerian listed firms. The study explores board independence, board size, and board gender diversity, while considering firm size and leverage as control variables for the year 2020 -2022. The study used a stratified sample technique to arrive at the sample of 96 listed firms covering a period of 3 years with 288 firm year observations. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis is employed to examine the relationships between board characteristics and CSR disclosure using STATA software. The regression analysis shows that among the variables considered, only firm size has a statistically significant positive impact on CSRD. This implies that larger firms are more likely to engage in and report CSR activities. Other variables like board independence, board size, board gender diversity, and firm leverage do not show statistically significant relationships with CSR disclosure in this sample. The findings aim to contribute to the understanding of how board structures influence CSR practices in Nigerian firms and potentially provide insights for policymakers, practitioners, and academics. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that policymakers should encourage the appointment of independent directors and promote gender diversity on corporate boards. Furthermore, the study also recommends that firms should consider optimizing board size to balance diverse input with effective decision-making.