ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING PRACTICES IN NIGERIA: ARE CLOUDS DARKER OR FAIRER IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY?

Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 39 - 60, 01.07.2019

K. A. Sanusı O.o. Sanusı

Abstract

This study assesses the popularity and the extent of environmental sustainability
reporting practices among quoted manufacturing firms in Nigeria and its effects
on their financial performances. The study employs survey research using panel
data (data of different firms from 2010 to 2015). This study adopts content
analysis, descriptive, and inferential statistics as methods of analysis. The
evidence provided in this study, based on the empirical findings, shows a fair
representation of the popularity of environmental sustainability reporting among
manufacturing firms in Nigeria, though majority of the manufacturing firms
reported very low levels of environmental disclosures. Environmental
sustainability reporting indeces have positive effects on the measures of financial
performance (earning per share, revenue growth, and return on assets). The study
concludes that management of companies should understand that improving
environmental sustainability practices is as important as improving financial
performance. Management should, therefore, build environmental sustainability
practices and reporting into their policies. Also, shareholders should know that
environmental issues affecting local communities can affect the social contract
between the community and organizations, thereby affecting survival. This study
recommends that at annual general meetings, shareholders should compel the
management of their companies to have well-structured environmental practices.
Finally, government should be concerned about the great environmental impacts manufacturing firms have in terms of emissions, wastes, effluents, and resource
consumption. To ensure a sustainable environment, government should back up
regulatory bodies in improving environmental sustainability practices in firms
through mandatory reporting requirements.

Keywords

Environment, Sustainability, Firms

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