Traditionally, cash and accrual bases of accounting are used respectively for public and private sector accounting. This notion has been justified by the supposedly distinct fundamental differences that exist in the objectives and goals pursued in each sector and the purposes that the financial reports are expected to achieve. The different environment in which each sector operates also lends credence to this notion. However, the partitioning wall between the two sectors' bases of accounting is crumbling. It is fast being realised that resources are scarce in both the private and public sectors. Consequently, their efficient management and reporting in a given entity's operation is essential. This study first, presents an account of governmental accounting and budgeting as practised in Nigeria, and relates it to the experience of other countries to identify similarities and otherwise on the issues of accounting innovation. Second, it assesses the opinion and views of those most knowledgeable about the financial details of the public sector of Nigeria. These are the Accountants - General as the producers of governmental accounting information, and the users of the information are the directors of finance and budget executives of government and other top management officials. Thereafter, the prevailing opinion is adopted in analysing Professor Luder's Contingency Model that has been described as the paradigm of accounting innovation in the public Sector. The outcome of the study indicates that by Luder classification criteria, accounting innovation is not currently feasible in Nigeria. However, most of the stimuli that positively jolt other countries into the process of accounting innovation are present in the situation of Nigeria. Moreover, the users and producers of governmental accounting information in the public sector of Nigeria are overwhelmingly aware of the inadequacy of accounting information produced by the cash accounting basis. Nonetheless, they disagreed to a shift from the cash basis of accounting to accrual accounting. Instead, preference is indicated for a combination of the two bases of accounting (similar to the practice in Spain). Since accounting innovation has not taken place in Nigeria, it is concluded that the stimuli may not have existed in the appropriate proportion. However, more firmly, the other variables that will positively complement the stimuli are quite inadequate; and above all the political will for the change is yet to emerge.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:633065 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Adeyemo, Margaret Folashade |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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